Social Security Number

Sindiana · #1 (**permalink**) 14th January 2008, 12:19 PM

Can anyone help or advise?
We moved to France in August, my partner (we're not married) works and commutes in the UK, so I'm living here full time with our two children, one of which is at school. We are planning to stay here indefinitely. I don't work here, I did in the UK, however I stopped last february just before having my second child.

So, am I and our children entitled to a social security number? Could I claim any child benefits/support? I currently pay in full to go to the doctor, I have kept all the documents on what I've paid, could I be reimbursed? We all have a european health insurance card and I now have a french bank account.

Many thanks

Bevdeforges · #2 (**permalink**) 14th January 2008, 02:19 PM

You get a French social security number (and card) when you start to work. But normally you and the children should be included on your partner's social security card. Does he have a French social security number/card?

If he does, he should contact the social security office and have you and the children added to his card. Then, you take his card with you when you go to the doctor. You still pay in full, but then he is reimbursed into his bank account by the sécu (for 2/3 of the amount) and by whatever mutuelle he is covered by (assuming you and the children are covered by the mutuelle) for the remander, less one or two euros.

Otherwise, you have to claim against your UK coverage and/or the european health insurance card you mentioned.

There are special rules in most countries for those folks who live in one country and work in another. As I understand it, your partner should be paying into the French health system if he has declared his home to be in France. But he should talk to his employer to see how that works between the UK and France. (I'm only familiar with the France-Germany rules but was told it works in a similar manner throughout most of the EU.)
Cheers,
Bev

giantpanda · #3 (**permalink**) 15th January 2008, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sindiana

Can anyone help or advise?
We moved to France in August, my partner (we're not married) works and commutes in the UK, so I'm living here full time with our two children, one of which is at school. We are planning to stay here indefinitely. I don't work here, I did in the UK, however I stopped last february just before having my second child.

So, am I and our children entitled to a social security number? Could I claim any child benefits/support? I currently pay in full to go to the doctor, I have kept all the documents on what I've paid, could I be reimbursed? We all have a european health insurance card and I now have a french bank account.

Many thanks

Hi!

Can you get an E106? - that would give you coverage for you and your children ( but only for a maximum of 2 years ) without working.

Unfortunately you have missed the coach. If you had done it right at the beginning, you would have been able to stay in the French Health Insurance without working, just paying a small contribution ( means tested ).

But now, if you do not work, after theE106, you will be required ( unless you work ) to contract a private health insurance for you and your children - An that will cost at least Euro 3000 just for you - what comes on top of that for the chuldren I do not know - it will depend on the company.

Yours,

giantpanda

braunstonian · #4 (**permalink**) 2nd February 2008, 06:53 PM

AFAIK you have to work for at least 6 months before getting a social security number in France.
If your partner has a number and mutuelle (health insurance) you should be able to tag yourself onto that to get healthcare. That's what I did when I first moved to France 10 years ago.

HTH

John.

Bevdeforges · #5 (**permalink**) 2nd February 2008, 09:36 PM

I'm not so sure about the 6 months thing. But yes, normally the non-working partner would go onto the social security card of the working partner.

An employer is supposed to apply for a social security number for any new employee within the first month of employment if they don't already have a number. First you get a "temporary" number, and after a month or two, they send you a permanent number.
Cheers,
Bev

braunstonian · #6 (**permalink**) 2nd February 2008, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

I'm not so sure about the 6 months thing.
Cheers,
Bev

Just going on when I last had a CDI contract back in 2006. Although I've heard that changes are to be made to Healthcare rules for EU Nationals. So it might have changed since then.

braunstonian · #7 (**permalink**) 2nd February 2008, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

I'm not so sure about the 6 months thing.
Cheers,
Bev

Just going on when I last had a CDI contract back in 2006. Although I've heard that changes are to be made to Healthcare rules for EU Nationals. So it might have changed since then.

John.

Bevdeforges · #8 (**permalink**) 2nd February 2008, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by braunstonian

Just going on when I last had a CDI contract back in 2006. Although I've heard that changes are to be made to Healthcare rules for EU Nationals. So it might have changed since then.

Ah yes, the joys of living in France - everything changes (though don't mention that to the French!). Since I am an employer (and the only employee of our company these days, since DH now counts as the "Big Bad Owner" and not an employee), I just remember what I had to do to get myself a social security number when I finally was able to put myself on the payroll. And that was a few years back - it could well have changed. (Or more likely - probably every employer follows the rules here in their own fashion.)
Cheers,
Bev

braunstonian · #9 (**permalink**) 2nd February 2008, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

Ah yes, the joys of living in France - everything changes (though don't mention that to the French!). Since I am an employer (and the only employee of our company these days, since DH now counts as the "Big Bad Owner" and not an employee), I just remember what I had to do to get myself a social security number when I finally was able to put myself on the payroll. And that was a few years back - it could well have changed. (Or more likely - probably every employer follows the rules here in their own fashion.)
Cheers,
Bev

When I actually first worked for a company, with contract etc, in 2002 - it was 6 months. Although I do share my girlfriends mutuelle from time to time depending on whether my entitlement has run out or not.

For the moment I'm OK to have healthcare under my own number till 2012 - after that I'm just going to explode...

John.

MC_Lyon · #10 (**permalink**) 6th February 2008, 11:49 AM

Hi

I am currently in a situation like yours.
My fiance is French, I am Canadian (but too have European Health Card from UK residency) and two months pregnant. The answer is that I have to get on his social security account in order to get health coverage for the pregnancy. At present, I have private health coverage (obtained this in France) which does not cover anything pre-natal/ante-natal so, like you, I am having to pay for doctor visits. I could not find one private company that would cover anything ante-natal.
We are able to apply for what they call here a PACS visa - this essentially grants a couple the same rights as a married couple, but I don't know how this would work in your situation. Your local 'Marie' may have info on this or try online.
I don't want to be a pessimist but from my research it looks like unless you can obtain a social security card or be assigned on someone else's you won't be covered for pre/post maternity in France.
Good luck nonetheless. It's a pain I know...