Cyprus-Forum.com

[sylvia]

My friend asked me to find out if anyone on the forum knows if a care allowance and care attendance allowance that is now being paid in the uk could be paid in Cyprus. I know pensions are.

[beverley10]

Sadly Sylvia the answer as far as I am aware is no!.The only thing you get is the increase increments in your pension and free national health through your european medical card(only available once you get to Cyprus although you have to apply to the uk!!!!)
There are carers over here that you have to pay for as in the uk.

[Bill]

Oh dear -- I suppose unemployment benefit is out of the question then

Bill -- not happy

[fagash]

I just had a quick look on google and found this...

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/international/sa2 ... its_07.asp

I didn't read it properly, but it looks like a no.

Be worth giving them a ring to find out though.

[Bill]

Hmm
I was just thinking that if I'm unemployed it may as well be somewhere with nice weather.

Well it was worth a try.



Bill

[carolh]

I think the only two benefits you can claim here are long term Incapacity Benefit and Industrial Injuries Benefit.
You can't claim Disabled Living Allowance, Mobility, Attendance etc.
Carol

[CatSitter_Limassol]

Bill
If you have been working in Cyprus for more than 6 months and paying into the Social Insurance fund (ie - working legally), then you can claim benefit from the social insurance if you become unemployed. I'm not certain if they claim it back from your original country as they appear to have a number of reciprocal agreements since joining the EU.

[steveash]

I must admit that since Cyprus joined the EU, then i thought you could claim unemployment benefit as long as you are from a member country.
I will be moving over to Cyprus, tho i will not be claiming any benifits as i have my own contract work, i will ask my wife who is a solicitor having just completed a law degree, and i do know she was pulling her hair out over the EU laws and regulations, and post what she has to say on here

[twinkle]

SOCIAL INSURANCE

Regulated in Cyprus by the Social Insurance Laws of 1980-1995

Operated by the State

Covers all employed and self employed persons except foreign employees of international companies registered in Cyprus. Foreigners who are employed by Cypriot companies are covered by the Social Insurance Scheme.

Contribution payable is 16.6% of employee’s insurance able earnings.
6.3% is paid by the employee, 6.3% by the employer and 4% by the Social Insurance Fund.
(Up to an earnings maximum of £1,495 per month. Gross earnings are taken into account.)

Self employed contribution payable is 15.6% of self employed insurable earnings. 11.6% paid by the self employed and 4% by the Social Insurance Fund.
Notional incomes are taken into account, unless the person can prove they earn lower than the notional rate for their occupation.

Voluntary contributions can be made – in the case of non employed persons - 13.5% insurable income, 10% by voluntary contributor and 3.5% by the state.


Benefits of cover include:

 Maternity allowance
 Sickness benefit
 Unemployment benefit
 Old age pension
 Invalidity pension
 Widow’s pension
 Orphan’s benefit
 Missing persons allowance (relevant to those missing since the Turkish invasion of 1974 and for whom there is no positive information as to their whereabouts.)
 Marriage grant
 Maternity grant
 Funeral grant
 Benefits for employment accidents and occupational diseases i.e. injury benefit, disablement benefit and death benefit

Self employed persons are not entitled to benefits for employment accidents and occupational diseases or Unemployment benefit.


Voluntary contributors are not entitled to Maternity Sickness Unemployment Invalidity Benefits for employment accidents

Apart from Marriage grant, Maternity grant and Funeral grant all benefits are made up from two parts, the basic benefit and supplementary benefit.

Basic benefit is assessed on earnings up to £70.83 per week (I think these have changed since I drafted this for work) and supplementary benefit on earnings of between £70.83 and £425.00 per week.

In addition, there is free medical treatment for victims of employment accidents and occupational disease and for invalidity pensioners.

All of these benefits are payable outside of Cyprus except for Maternity, unemployment, sickness and injury benefit

Non Nationals have the same rights as Nationals to this scheme

Contributions are paid into the Social Insurance Fund from here benefits and administrative expenses and taken from the Social Insurance Scheme.

The scheme covers compulsorily every person occupied in Cyprus either as an employee or self employed.

[twinkle]

Regarding Non EU Nationals who have lived here for 5 years or more, you can now apply for a long term residents permit (EU) and you will be entitled to the same rights as an EU/Cypriot citizen IN Cyprus.