Overview

The Benefits and Public Services (Restriction) Bill aims to limit access to publicly funded benefits and services for non-UK citizens. It introduces stricter requirements for benefit eligibility, links benefits to contributions, and mandates data collection on benefit recipients.

Description

This bill introduces several key restrictions:

• Nationality Declaration: Applicants for benefits or services must declare their nationality.
• EU/EEA Dependants: Non-UK EU/EEA citizens are only eligible for housing or council tax benefits in England and Wales if they are spouses or dependants of UK citizens.
• Benefit Amount: Benefits paid to non-UK citizens cannot exceed the equivalent benefit in their home country.
• Service Provision: Public services provided to non-UK citizens must also be equivalent to what would be provided in their home country.
• Contribution Requirement: Non-UK citizens must have made insurance-based contributions for at least two years to receive benefits, with a six-month limit on benefits paid in any two-year period.
• Data Collection: The Secretary of State must collect and publish data on non-UK EU/EEA citizens receiving taxpayer-funded benefits and the associated costs.

Government Spending

The bill is expected to reduce government spending on benefits and public services for non-UK citizens. Exact figures are not provided in the bill itself, but the restrictions imposed are intended to lower expenditure.

Groups Affected

The bill significantly impacts:

• Non-UK Citizens: Access to benefits and public services will be restricted for this group, particularly those from the EU/EEA.
• UK Citizens with Non-UK Dependants: Restrictions on benefits for dependants may affect families where the non-UK partner or dependant is not a spouse.
• Government Departments: Increased administrative burden due to new requirements for nationality declarations and data collection.

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