What is a key legal principle related to residency requirements for state benefits?

The principle of interstate commerce is central to issues surrounding residency requirements for state benefits. The Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution prohibits states from enacting laws that unduly burden interstate commerce. This means that when states impose residency requirements for access to certain benefits, those requirements cannot unjustly restrict the movement of individuals between states or create excessive barriers for non-residents.

In practice, if a state creates residency requirements that are viewed as discriminatory or as imposing undue burdens on individuals trying to access benefits, this can raise legal challenges under the Commerce Clause. Courts often scrutinize these requirements to ensure they don't favor residents over non-residents in a way that would impede the free flow of people and goods across state lines.

This principle is particularly relevant in cases involving social services, education, and public benefits, where states must balance their right to manage their own programs with the requirement not to create unlawful barriers to entry based on residency. Thus, acknowledging that residency requirements must not interfere with interstate commerce is fundamental to understanding the legal landscape governing state benefits.