David Rutley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Rutley on 2014-03-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what changes he plans to make to the ability of EU migrants to access benefits.

Esther McVey

We have introduced a range of measures to tighten up our EEA migration rules to ensure our welfare system is not taken advantage of.

Since December 2013 Migrants have had to take a stronger, more robust Habitual Residence Test if they want to claim income-related benefits.

From 1 January 2014, EEA job seekers must have been living in the UK for three months before they can claim income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

If they satisfy HRT a new statutory presumption will mean that EEA jobseekers and retained workers will then only be able to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance for six months. After six months, only those who have compelling evidence that they have a genuine prospect of finding work will be able to continue claiming.

Since the 1 March the Minimum Earnings Threshold is helping to determine whether an EEA national’s previous or current work can be treated as genuine and effective in deciding whether they have a right to reside in the UK as a worker or a self employed person.

From 1 April 2014 new EEA Jobseekers will be unable to access Housing Benefits even if they are in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance.