Approach to the European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020 Trade and Other Matters Social Security
The Act gives effect in domestic law to the Protocol on Social Security Coordination of the TCA, ensuring that individuals can rely on the provisions of the Protocol before domestic courts, tribunals and administrative authorities.
	The provisions in the Protocol on Social Security Coordination ensure that individuals who move between the UK and the EU in the future will be able to protect their contributions for state pensions and access a range of social security benefits (including healthcare) in line with those provisions.
	The UK and EU Member States will be able to take into account relevant social security contributions paid into each other’s social security systems, or relevant periods of work or residence, by individuals in order to determine those individuals’ entitlement to a state pension and to a range of benefits (for example unemployment and invalidity benefits). The Protocol also provides for the up-rating of the UK State Pension paid to pensioners who retire to the EU after the end of the Transition Period.
	The Protocol ensures that cross-border workers and their employers pay social security contributions in only one State.
	On healthcare, where the UK or an EU Member State is responsible for the healthcare of an individual, that person will be entitled to reciprocal healthcare cover in accordance with the Protocol. In addition, the Protocol contains necessary healthcare provisions – akin to those provided under the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) scheme – for people who are travelling (during a "stay") to a State other than their responsible State. The Protocol also enables individuals to seek authorisation to receive planned medical treatment in certain circumstances in the UK or the EU, funded by their responsible State.
	The Protocol allows for the Specialised Committee on Social Security Coordination to make amendments to the Protocol’s associated Annexes and Appendices.