World Immigration News

(BBC)Reform UK benefits ban for foreign nationals would include EU citizens

Release Date: 2026-08-17
Media: BBC
Summary: Reform UK has proposed excluding foreign nationals from almost all welfare benefits if it forms the next UK government. The restrictions would cover housing benefit, pension credit, jobseeker’s allowance, child benefit, free childcare and disability benefits, with only limited exceptions such as war widows’ pensions and Armed Forces compensation. Importantly, the policy would also apply to EU citizens with settled status who have lived and worked legally in the UK for years.

Reform claims the measure would save £21 billion annually by its fifth year. It forms part of a broader 50-page welfare reform plan that the party says could reduce government spending by £50 billion a year. Robert Jenrick, Reform’s shadow chancellor, argues that British taxpayers should not be required to finance benefits for foreign nationals, particularly those who have not sufficiently contributed to the system.

However, removing benefits from EU citizens with settled status would likely require renegotiating the UK’s post-Brexit agreement with the EU. Brussels could respond by restricting equivalent rights for British citizens living in EU countries. Reform has estimated that such retaliation could result in £500 million in additional costs if British expatriates returned to the UK and claimed benefits.

The proposal has faced strong criticism from other political parties. Labour argues that the vast majority of migrants already have no access to benefits and warns that the policy could remove support from millions of people who have legally lived, worked and paid taxes in Britain for many years while reopening Brexit disputes. The Conservatives have described the proposals as poorly constructed, while the Liberal Democrats argue that improving the NHS and social care would be a better way to reduce welfare spending. The Greens have called instead for greater taxation of the wealthy.
Tags: United Kingdom

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