EU extends social security to non-EU nationals

Denmark and United Kingdom have opted out of the new rules,

Non-EU nationals and their families who are legally resident in one EU Member State but staying or working in another will be entitled to social security benefits in the same way as EU nationals under new EU rules approved by the Parliament on 7th October.

EU citizens who are legally resident in one Member State, but staying or working in another, are already entitled to social security benefits under two EU regulations on the co-ordination of social security systems.

The newly approved rules extend these entitlements to third country nationals and members of their families who are legally resident in the territory of an EU Member State. Parliament avoided amending this regulation to ensure that it takes effect quickly.

Denmark and the United Kingdom have opted out of the new coordination arrangements for third country nationals.