Overview

The Benefit Entitlement (Restriction) Bill aims to restrict access to taxpayer-funded benefits for non-UK citizens from the European Union and European Economic Area (EEA). The bill introduces several measures to limit eligibility and the amount of benefits received.

Description

This bill makes several key changes to benefit entitlement:

• Nationality Declaration: Applicants for a national insurance number or taxpayer-funded 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 payable 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 for taxpayer-funded benefits.
• Information Gathering: The government is mandated to collect and publish data on the number and cost of benefits paid to non-UK EU/EEA citizens.

Government Spending

The bill is expected to reduce government spending on benefits for non-UK EU/EEA citizens. Exact figures are not provided in the bill itself, but the intended effect is a reduction in benefit payments.

Groups Affected

The bill primarily affects:

• Non-UK EU/EEA citizens living in the UK: Their access to certain benefits will be restricted, potentially leading to financial hardship for some.
• UK citizens with EU/EEA spouses or dependants: The changes to dependant eligibility could affect their access to benefits.
• Government agencies responsible for benefit payments: These agencies will need to implement the new rules and collect data on benefit payments to this group.

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