Overview

This bill aims to restrict access to taxpayer-funded benefits for non-UK citizens from the European Union and European Economic Area (EEA). It introduces requirements for declarations of nationality, limits benefit amounts, and mandates a minimum contribution period before eligibility.

Description

The bill makes several key changes to benefit entitlement:

• Declaration of Nationality: Applicants for a national insurance number or taxpayer-funded benefits must declare their nationality.
• Dependants: 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 a UK citizen.
• Benefit Amount: Benefits paid to EU/EEA citizens cannot exceed the equivalent benefit in their home country.
• Claimant's Contribution: EU/EEA citizens must have made national insurance contributions for at least four years, and any benefit payment cannot exceed six months in a year.
• 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. The exact amount is not specified in the bill itself, and would depend on the number of individuals affected and the specific benefits claimed.

Groups Affected

• Non-UK EU/EEA citizens: This group will face restrictions on their access to UK taxpayer-funded benefits. The impact will vary depending on their individual circumstances and the type of benefits they claim.
• UK citizens sponsoring EU/EEA family members: The changes to dependant eligibility could affect UK citizens with family members from the EU/EEA who rely on benefits.
• UK Government: The government will be responsible for implementing the new rules and collecting the required data on benefit payments.

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