The Response of Residence-based Schemes in the Netherlands to Cross-Border Movement

Abstract

The Netherlands already had a residence-based scheme for old-age pensions when the first Coordination Regulation came into force. This national scheme incorporated a pro-rata system from the start and fits rather well, despite differences in character, with the coordination rules. Health care became organised in a residence-based scheme in 2004, and is based on a contributory system that also fits well with the coordination rules. Special non-contributory benefits and social assistance are more vulnerable to the growth of mobility. Although there are certainly deficiencies and challenges in the system, there are various techniques in residence-based schemes that can be used to control access by mobile persons and at the same time to ensure a minimum income or provision. This makes it interesting to carry out a comparison with other residence-based schemes