Coordination of Social Security Systems

U2 — Retention of unemployment benefit entitlement

Information about the U2 form and its use

1. The U2 form You must register with the employment services within

seven days of departing. If you do this, your unemploy­ The U2 form is the authorization you need to export your ment benefit will be paid without any break. If you regis­ unemployment benefit if you are unemployed in an EU ter after this date your benefit will only be paid from the country (1) and wish to move to another EU country to look day you register. A full list of institutions can be found at for work. http://ec.europa.eu/social-security-directory.

2. Where and when to obtain your U2 form 5. What you have to do in the country where you are looking for work You should obtain your U2 from the employment service or the social security institution of the country where you You have to comply with the obligations and control pro­ became unemployed. It is very important that you request cedures organised by the employment service or social the U2 before you leave that country (otherwise you might security institution of the country where you are looking not be entitled to the export of unemployment benefits). for work. The employment service in that country will advise you what these procedures are when you first pre­ sent your U2.

3. Before you leave the country paying your

unemployment benefit

6. Payment of your unemployment benefit

You must have made yourself available to the employment service of the country which pays your unemployment bene­ Your unemployment benefit will be paid direct to you by the fit for at least 4 weeks after becoming unemployed before employment service or competent institution in the country you can export this benefit to another country. However, paying your benefit. in certain circumstances, the employment service or social security institution may allow you to leave before the end Your unemployment benefit will be paid for a period of of this period. You should always consult the employment 3 months, provided you comply with all the procedures service about the export of your benefit if you are thinking and remain unemployed. The employment services or of looking for work in another country. They will advise and social security institution in the country paying your issue you with the U2 form as appropriate. benefit may extend this up to a maximum period of

6 months. Your benefit can only be paid as long as you have

an entitlement in the country paying you. For example if

4. Use of the U2 form that country pays unemployment benefit for a maximum

of 6 months, and you decide to look for work in another You should present the U2 to the employment services of country after receiving benefit for 4 months, then you the country where you are looking for work, at the time you will only be able to export your benefit for a maximum of register as a job seeker with the employment services there. 2 months.

(1) In the following text, the terms “EU Country” or “EU Member State” will also refer to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland as soon as Regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009 become applicable to them.

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