Social Security Number In Luxembourg: Guided

Think of a Social Security Number in Luxembourg as your golden ticket to societal perks.

Ah, but how does one go about getting this magical number?

Worry not, in this guide we demystify the Luxembourgish Social Security System for you.

Living In Luxembourg

Luxembourg offers an excellent quality of life for natives and expats alike. A genuinely cosmopolitan country with a long tradition of welcoming residents from abroad, it is a great place to live, raise a family, and build an international career.

Attractive Healthcare And Social Security

The Luxembourg health system is one of the best in the world. Health expenditure amounted to 6.1% of GDP in 2017, and the country is one of the highest spenders on health per capita among the OECD countries.

Over 95% of inhabitants are covered by health insurance.

The highly developed and efficient social security system provides benefits related to illness, workplace accidents, and occupational diseases.

In addition, insurance related to maternity, old age, disability, survival, unemployment, nursing care, early retirement, guaranteed minimum wage, and family benefits.

Rich Cultural Life

Luxembourg’s vibrant cultural life includes art, music, dance, theatre, and much more performed by world-class artists.

For a small country, Luxembourg has an impressive list of museums, art centers, galleries, and independent stages, which includes Rockhal, an international live music venue, and Philharmonie, a renowned concert hall with artists from all over the world.

You can visit the UNESCO World Heritage sites and the Hopping Procession of Echternach, which has its roots in medieval times.

The country is steeped in centuries of history, with medieval castles a familiar sight.

Great food, fine wine, and locally brewed beer to be enjoyed in a wide variety of restaurants and pubs add to the feeling of well-being, as do the wellness areas and spas easily accessible in various parts of the country.

Sports And Nature

This green and diverse country is an attractive mix of bustling city life and scenic landscapes. The countryside, with diverse and unique landscapes crisscrossed by several thousand kilometers of hiking and biking paths, is never far away.

Luxembourg has a first-class infrastructure of sports centers, a nautical base to discover water sports, and an ice rink.

The country is home to 6 golf courses and 38 swimming pools. The National Sports Institute (NSI) allows young people, trainees, and teams to train in professional conditions.

Immigration

All European Union citizens, as well as members of their families (who are also EU citizens), enjoy freedom of movement within the EU, giving them the right to work and reside in Luxembourg, subject to certain conditions.

People from elsewhere, so-called third-country nationals, need a visa and a work permit to settle in Luxembourg. Simplified work permit procedures for qualified personnel from outside the EU have been put in place.

Excellent Work/Life Balance In A Safe Environment

Green, clean, and safe but far from dull: Luxembourg is an ideal base for both families and singles.

The country is also one of the safest, with Luxembourg City being named the safest city in the world for expats by Mercer’s 2019 Quality of Living City Ranking.

With its generous paid leave and parental leave, family-friendly attitude, and relatively short distances between homes and workplaces, Luxembourg is renowned for offering an outstanding work/life balance.

Different providers offer various types of childcare: crèches, daycare centers, nurseries, childminders, or structures where parents can leave their children before and after school.

Housing

Accommodation in Luxembourg can be found via property listings on specialized websites and in the local press, by contacting any of the numerous estate agents, or by seeking help from a relocation agency.

The official Luxembourg web portal provides an overview of the steps to rent or buy property.

Traveling At Home And Exploring Europe

A well-developed, interconnected network of buses, trains, and trams covers the entire country of Luxembourg.

It is the first country in the world to offer free access to all public transport for residents and visitors. Fuel costs and road tax are among the lowest in Western Europe.

With direct flights to over 100 destinations all over Europe and high-speed train connections to several major cities, Luxembourg is an excellent base for discovering the European continent.

Neighboring countries are less than half an hour away from the capital by train or car.

What Is A Social Security Number?

If you’ve ever applied for a credit card or completed a job application, you’ve probably been asked for your Social Security number.

This unique nine-digit number issued by the Social Security Administration is one of your most important pieces of identifying information.

There are various ways your Social Security number is used and several essential reasons why you need to have one.

If you’ve ever wondered what the purpose of these numbers is, how they’re assigned, or how to make the most of your Social Security number, here’s a closer look at how they work.

Social Security Number, Definition

A Social Security number is a unique nine-digit code that’s used to identify you and track your earnings over the course of your lifetime.

These numbers were first introduced in 1936 to track earnings histories for U.S. workers.

According to the Social Security Administration, more than 450 million Social Security numbers have been issued, and more than 420 million numbers are available for assignment.

Social Security numbers can be issued at birth by the Social Security Administration. They also are available to legal residents.

They’re printed on a paper card and mailed to you. Social Security numbers have three components:

Area Number: This is the first set of three digits.
Group Number: This is the second set of two digits.
Serial Number: This is the third set of four digits.

Your geographic region assigns your area number. This is based on the zip code that’s used to apply for a Social Security number and doesn’t necessarily represent where you were born or where you live.

The group number corresponds to your area number and can range from 01 to 99. These numbers are assigned on an odd/even basis. The serial number is a set of four digits ranging from 0001 to 9999.

Starting in 2011, the Social Security Administration opted to randomize Social Security number assignments.

The most notable change is that the area number no longer has any geographic significance based on where you live.

Social Security Benefits

Social Security numbers were first created to track earnings for workers to help with determining the Social Security benefits they’d be entitled to receive once they retired. That’s still a primary function of Social Security numbers today.

Social Security benefits are typically calculated using your average indexed monthly earnings, which takes into account up to 35 years of earnings.

So, if you get your first job at age 16, for example, then the Social Security Administration starts tracking your earnings history from that point.

Your actual earnings are adjusted or indexed to account for changes in average wages over time.

The Social Security Administration uses these adjusted wages to calculate your primary benefit, which is the amount you’d receive once you reach full retirement age.

The full retirement age is based on the year you were born. For someone born in 1960 or later, that’s 67.

If you wait until full retirement age to receive benefits, you’ll receive the total benefit amount you’re eligible for.

But you can technically begin taking Social Security retirement benefits at age 62. Doing so, however, will reduce your benefit amount.

On the other hand, you can delay taking Social Security benefits up to age 70, which can increase your benefit amount.

Other Uses For Social Security Numbers

Aside from Social Security benefits, your Social Security number can be used in other ways. For example, you’ll typically need a Social Security number if you want to:

Open a bank account in your name
Apply for federal or private student loans
Get a credit card in your name
Apply for a home loan or auto loan
Apply for a job
Qualify for state or federal benefits or financial assistance
Get a passport
File your taxes
Get a driver’s license

You may also need to provide your Social Security number when applying for cell phone or utility services in your name, renting a car, or signing a lease on an apartment. That’s because of the way Social Security numbers are used for credit scoring.

Your credit score is a three-digit number that’s based on the information in your credit reports.

This information is reported to the credit bureaus by your lenders or billers. Credit reports include both financial information, such as account activity, as well as personal information.

One of the critical pieces of personal information used to identify you for credit reporting and scoring is your Social Security number.

Your entire credit history is tied to that number, which is why it’s so important to protect it.

Suppose someone were to obtain your Social Security number and other pieces of personal information, such as your date of birth. In that case, they could open fraudulent credit cards, loans, and other accounts in your name.

Identity theft can be stressful to resolve, and it can cause severe credit score damage if someone runs up sizable debts in your name.

You can protect your Social Security number by:

Keeping your Social Security card in a secure place, such as a home safe or safe deposit box at your bank
Keeping any physical documents that include your Social Security number in a secure place
Encrypting digital documents stored on your computer or phone that include your Social Security number

And be cautious about who you share your Social Security number with. Consider carefully before sharing your number over the phone or via email with anyone you don’t know without first verifying that it’s a trusted source.

So if your bank emails you asking for your Social Security number, for example, call the bank directly first to make sure the request is legit.

How To Get A Social Security Number In Luxembourg?

Luxembourg has a two-sided social security card: the national side and the European side.

The national side is the ‘social security identification card of Luxembourg’. It confers entitlement to coverage for, among others, health care, maternity, and dependency care in Luxembourg.

The European side is the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which is identical in all Member States. It entitles the holder to be covered for urgent and immediately necessary health care during a temporary stay:

in another EU Member State (EU);
in a country of the European Economic Area (EEA);
in Switzerland.

Each person enrolled for social security, as a main insured or a co-insured party (dependent on the main insured person), is entitled to a card.

Luxembourg’s social security identification card is strictly personal and issued in the holder’s name.

What Is The Process Of Obtaining A Social Security Card In Luxembourg?

In principle, the card is automatically created when the primary insured person is affiliated with the CCSS and then sent by post to the person’s official address of residence.

The card is delivered within 3 weeks to the active main insured person;

After the employer has filed a new-employee declaration with the CCSS;
After a self-employed worker or an individual who has taken out voluntary insurance has filed their own declaration with the CCSS;

And is delivered to co-insured persons, pensioners, or persons receiving a replacement income (i.e., the social inclusion income – REVIS, unemployment benefits, etc.) after their application to the competent health insurance fund, i.e., the CNS, CMFEC, CMFEP, or EMCFL.

Babies born in Luxembourg are automatically co-insured, and the cards are sent by the competent health insurance fund.

Using The Card

In Luxembourg

The card must be presented to all healthcare providers or suppliers (doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, laboratories, etc.).

Healthcare providers and suppliers are entitled to demand that the patient produce their identity document (ID card, passport).

Use Of The Card Abroad

Information on healthcare coverage abroad can be found on the National Health Fund (Caisse Nationale de Santé – CNS) website.

Renewing The Card

The social security card of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg is valid for a limited period of time, depending on the type of enrolment.

The validity of the European card could be improved in time.

For persons holding an expired European Health Insurance Card, the card is automatically renewed 2 months before the end of its validity.

If the card is not delivered within this time, a new one must be ordered on the website of the Joint Social Security Centre.

In that case, expect a delivery time of approximately 3 weeks.

Loss/theft Of A Card

In the event of loss or theft, a new card must be ordered from the CCSS or from the competent health insurance fund.

Affiliation With Luxembourgish Social Security As A Luxembourgish Employee

Your registration with the social security service will be carried out automatically by Securex during your declaration of entry.

You will receive a letter from the CCSS confirming your affiliation. The same shall apply when you leave the company.

To that end, you must be in possession of your Luxembourgish social security number. This number always begins with your year, month, and day of birth, followed by 5 figures.

If you have already worked in Luxembourg or if you are a resident of the country and you already have a social security number, please inform your employer.

This number is unique and will stay the same throughout your career (even in the case of a student job), and it is indispensable for your declaration of entry.

If this is your first time working in Luxembourg, it is necessary to submit a high-quality copy of both sides of your identity card or passport to your employer. Securex can then apply for a social security number before proceeding to your declaration of entry.

Social Security In Luxembourg For Self-employed And Freelancers

Self-employed workers and freelancers in Luxembourg must enroll for social security. This involves completing a ‘declaration of start of employment for self-employed persons’ form and sending it to the CCSS.

Self-employed workers must make contributions themselves. These contributions are based on either your last recorded taxable income or, if you’re new to the system, the social minimum wage for unskilled workers.

If your income differs, you can adjust the amount you pay by contacting the CCSS. You will also receive a letter from them each year detailing your income and expected contributions.

Self-employed workers are exempt from social security if their professional income doesn’t exceed a third of the minimum social wage. Unemployment insurance covers workers for at least two years, with benefits calculated based on income.

Social Benefits For Low Earners In Luxembourg

Residents of Luxembourg who require financial assistance may be able to apply for additional benefits.

Low-earners who earn below the minimum social wage in Luxembourg can apply for social inclusion income (REVIS). You must be:

legally resident in Luxembourg
registered on the National Registry of Natural Persons (RNPP)
living at the address of your usual residence
over 25 years old
receiving an income below the legal threshold
a registered job seeker

EU and EEA citizens must have lived in Luxembourg for at least three months before claiming REVIS. Third-country nationals must have been legally resident in Luxembourg for five years within the last 20 or have long-term residence.

The amount of social income you can claim varies depending on your household – for example, people with children can claim an additional sum.

Families with lower incomes could also benefit from the cost of living subsidy and energy allowance (allocation de vie chère). To qualify, you’ll need to earn below a specific threshold, which varies depending on the number of people in your household.

The cost of living benefit you’ll receive is also based on this – single people are eligible for payments of €1,652, while households of five or more people make double this amount – €3,304. Energy allowances range from €200-€400.

Tips Regarding Social Security

Consider talking to your financial advisor about Social Security benefits and where they fit into your retirement plans. Finding one can be simple if you still need to get a financial advisor.

Social Security planning is essential, especially if you’re married or need to decide when you should begin taking Social Security benefits.

Married couples have different options for maximizing their benefits based on each spouse’s earnings history.

While taking benefits early could provide much-needed income for retirement, you could reap a more significant benefit by waiting longer to file for Social Security.

Conclusion

You made it to the end and are practically a Social Security Number savant now! Just remember, this number is your passport to Luxembourg’s social benefits—so guard it well.

Benefit Ahead!

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