Part 4: People going abroad
and from abroad
People going abroad
Many Commonwealth and other countries have reciprocal agreements with the United Kingdom on social security matters. Înformation about these agreements and about payment of British national insurance contri- butions and entitlement to benefit while abroad may be obtained from the Department's Overseas Branch, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE98 1YX. Countries of the European Economic Community* (EEC) have arrangements for social security, including medical treatment, which apply to most people travelling from one Community country to another. Anyone who intends to work, seek work or reside in other Community countries should write to the Department's Overseas Branch. In addition people covered by the Community arrangements who go on a temporary visit, eg on holiday or on business, to another Community country are entitled to urgent medical treatment there on the same basis as insured nationals of that country. Most countries require a certificate of entitlement (form E111) which the visitor should obtain before leaving the UK. Further information: Leaflet SA28.
In general, people who are self-employed or non-employed will not be covered by the EEC arrangement but by the reciprocal agreements which the United Kingdom has with each of the Community countries. However in the case of temporary visitors it is only the agreements with Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany and Gibraltar which cover medical
treatment.
Health care agreements
In addition to any health care provisions included in the social security agreements referred to above, health care agreements have been concluded with a number of countries. Under these agreements, generally, all UK nationals on temporary visits are entitled to receive urgently required medical care, but the facilities are not necessarily so comprehensive as those provided under the NHS, and they are not always entirely free.
The agreements do not usually cover someone who goes to another country for the specific purpose of obtaining treatment for a pre-existing condition. Further information: Leaflet SA30.
People from abroad
Generally someone who comes to Great Britain from abroad must start to pay contributions as soon as he/she begins to work for an employer. This is not the case if however, he/she remains liable to pay contributions to the insurance scheme of another country under the terms of a reciprocal agreement or under the EEC arrangements on social security.
Self-employed people who are, or become, ordinarily resident here are liable to pay contributions immediately. Other self-employed people become
*Belgium, Denmark, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Gibraltar, Irish Republic, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
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