Social Security Benefits: Foreign Nationals
2026-07-22 · Department for Work and Pensions · HL2723 · Official question
Question
To ask His Majesty's Government what welfare, housing and health benefits foreign nationals are entitled to; from what point after their arrival in the UK are they entitled to those benefits; and what criteria are used to assess their eligibility.
Answer
All claimants, regardless of their nationality, must demonstrate that they are resident in the UK and have an immigration status that qualifies them to receive taxpayer-funded benefits.Migrants with recourse to public funds are subject to the same eligibi...