The Common Travel Area and social security benefits
There is a social security agreement between the UK and Ireland allowing existing reciprocal social security rights for UK and Irish citizens (and for certain family members and surviving family members) under the Common Travel Area (CTA) arrangements and law of the EU to be protected following EU Exit.
Common Travel Area (CTA)
There will be no change to the social security arrangements between the UK and Ireland that are in place.
In May 2019 the UK and Irish Governments signed a new Memorandum of Understanding on the CTA.
This guaranteed there would be no changes to the rights of British citizens in Ireland/ Irish citizens in the UK because of the UK’s exit from the EU.
Accessing social security benefits in the CTA
If you are a British or Irish citizen residing or working in the other’s state, working in both states or working across the border, you are subject to only one state’s social security legislation at a time.
You can access social security benefits and entitlements, including pensions, from whichever state you are subject to the social security legislation of, regardless of where you are living.
When working in the CTA, you pay into only one state’s social security scheme at a time. You are also entitled when in the other state, to the same social security rights, and are under the same obligations, as citizens of that state.
You also have the right to access social security benefits on the same basis as citizens of the state you are in. The UK and Irish governments have a bilateral agreement in place to make sure that these rights will continue to be protected.
Accessing social housing support in the CTA
If you are a British or Irish citizen residing in the other state you have the right to access social housing. This includes supported housing and homeless assistance, on the same basis as citizens of that state.
Both governments have committed to taking steps to make sure that this will continue.