AFFRET - SECUline

What is AFFRET? — AFFRET is an automated rejection file within Luxembourg's SECUline system that reports unprocessable employee affiliation records submitted through the DECAFF procedure. The file identifies data errors in employee entries, exits, and modifications by providing specific rejection codes that indicate why the Joint Social Security Centre (CCSS) could not process the submitted information. This feedback mechanism allows employers and payroll providers to quickly identify and correct errors in their social security declarations.

When is the AFFRET file generated? — The CCSS automatically generates and sends an AFFRET file whenever at least one employee affiliation record from a DECAFF submission cannot be processed. This happens when there are errors in critical data fields such as social security numbers, employer registration numbers, employment dates, contract types, or other mandatory information required for social security registration in Luxembourg.

What information does the AFFRET file contain? — The AFFRET file includes all the original data from the rejected DECAFF records, supplemented with a rejection code that precisely identifies the nature of the error. Each rejected entry displays the employee information as originally submitted along with a numeric code indicating the specific data issue that prevented processing. Common rejection codes indicate problems like incomplete or incorrect social security numbers, missing occupation details, incorrect contract type specifications, or inconsistent date entries.

How should employers respond to an AFFRET file? — When an employer or their payroll provider receives an AFFRET file, they must review the rejection codes, correct the erroneous data in their payroll system, and resubmit a corrected DECAFF file to the CCSS. This error-correction cycle ensures that all employees are properly affiliated with Luxembourg's social security system and that the employer remains compliant with registration obligations. Prompt correction prevents delays in employee coverage and helps avoid potential penalties for late or incomplete social security declarations.

What are the technical specifications of the AFFRET file? — The AFFRET file follows standardized technical specifications within the SECUline system. It is delivered as an uncompressed ASCII-encoded text file with fields separated by semicolons and each record terminated by a carriage return and line feed. The file naming convention follows the format AFFRET.xxxx_yyyy_zzzz.dta, where xxxx represents the employer's registration number, yyyy indicates the SECUline member number, and zzzz contains a timestamp. These technical specifications enable automated processing by payroll software and facilitate integration with employer management systems.

Why is the AFFRET system important for Luxembourg payroll compliance? — The AFFRET feedback system serves as a critical quality control mechanism in Luxembourg's social security administration. By providing immediate, specific feedback on data errors, it helps employers maintain accurate employee records, ensures timely social security coverage for workers, and supports the overall integrity of Luxembourg's social security database. For payroll professionals and HR departments, monitoring and responding to AFFRET files is an essential part of maintaining compliance with Luxembourg employment regulations and fulfilling employer obligations to the CCSS.

Synonyms: Rejection file, error report file, DECAFF return file, affiliation rejection notification