Other international agreements

There are additional specific UK international social security agreements with Gibraltar and the Republic of Ireland. Irish or UK nationals moving between Ireland and the UK, and individuals of any nationality moving between the UK and Gibraltar, will essentially continue to be subject to the EU coordination rules in the future. This is regardless of whether that movement takes place before or after the end of 2020. 

Individuals covered by the Irish Agreement making an application in Scotland must have been present in the Common Travel Area (which includes Ireland) for 26 of the last 52 weeks. The usual rules on competence apply. The UK/Ireland: Convention on Social Security ensures that the position of UK and Irish nationals who move or have moved between the UK and Ireland will not change as a result of the UK's exit from the EU. It guarantees continued access to, and equality of treatment in relation to, social security provision for UK and Irish nationals and their qualifying family members in each country.

The agreement with Gibraltar essentially replicates the provisions of the EU rules and applies those to individuals of any nationality moving between Gibraltar and the UK, as though the UK and Gibraltar were separate EU member states. 

Other UK international agreements mean individuals who are both:

• nationals of either Morocco or Tunisia; and
• in employment in the UK 

should have their applications from within Scotland assessed as though they were in the ‘protected cohort’. That is, the EU rules should be applied.