Following notification by the United Kingdom of its intention to leave the European Union (EU) and the repeated postponement of the effective date of exit, the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the EU will take place on 31 January 2020. After this date, the UK will no longer be part of the EU.
The consequences of the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the EU with regard to social security are the following:
Until 31.12.2020
This is a transitional period during which EU law continues to apply in the United Kingdom and on its territory. Therefore, nothing changes with regard to the United Kingdom as far as social security is concerned (use of the European Health Insurance Card during holidays in the United Kingdom; use of S1 form; scheduled care in the United Kingdom authorised through form S2 etc.).
As of 01.01.2021
The withdrawal agreement contains provisions to protect the social security rights of persons who have exercised their right of free movement before the end of the transitional period. Persons who fulfil the conditions laid down in the agreement will continue to benefit from the application of the European regulations on the coordination of social security systems even after 31.12.2020. This protection is guaranteed to them for life, as long as they fulfil the conditions set out in the withdrawal agreement.
In other situations, in particular for people who will start moving between the EU and the UK starting 01.01.2021, the EU regulations on the coordination of social security will no longer apply. At the present stage of the procedure, and as arrangements will still have to be made to deal with the coordination of social security systems with the United Kingdom, it is currently not known what form this possible coordination will take. Further information will be provided in due course.