Overview

The Benefit Entitlement (Restriction) Bill aims to limit access to taxpayer-funded benefits for non-UK citizens from the European Union and European Economic Area (EEA). The bill introduces stricter requirements for benefit eligibility, including minimum contribution periods and limitations on benefit duration.

Description

This bill introduces several key changes to benefit entitlement:

• Nationality Declaration: Applicants for national insurance numbers and benefits must declare their nationality.
• Dependants' Eligibility: Non-UK EU/EEA citizens are only eligible for housing benefit or council tax benefit in England and Wales if they are spouses or dependants of UK citizens.
• Benefit Amount: Benefits paid to EU/EEA citizens cannot exceed the equivalent benefit in their home country.
• Contribution Requirement: EU/EEA citizens must have made national insurance contributions for at least two years and cannot receive benefits for more than six months in any two-year period to be eligible.
• Information Gathering: The government is required to collect and publish data on the number and cost of benefits received by non-UK EU/EEA citizens.

Government Spending

The bill is expected to reduce government spending on benefits paid to non-UK EU/EEA citizens. Precise figures are not provided in the bill itself, but the changes are intended to create significant savings.

Groups Affected

The bill primarily affects:

• Non-UK EU/EEA citizens residing in the UK: They will face stricter eligibility criteria for various benefits, potentially resulting in reduced or no access to benefits.
• UK citizens with EU/EEA spouses or dependants: The restrictions on benefits for dependants could affect their ability to support family members.
• Government departments responsible for benefit administration: They will need to implement the new rules and collect the required data.

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