{"id":37940,"date":"2014-01-20T13:12:03","date_gmt":"2014-01-20T13:12:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=e03effd9fc207d7ba43d21be2e6deb65"},"modified":"2014-01-20T13:12:03","modified_gmt":"2014-01-20T13:12:03","slug":"press-release-new-rules-to-stop-migrants-claiming-housing-benefit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=37940","title":{"rendered":"Press release: New rules to stop migrants claiming Housing Benefit"},"content":{"rendered":"
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New migrant jobseekers from the European Economic Area (EEA<\/abbr>) will no longer be able to get Housing Benefit (HB<\/abbr>) from April, Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith announced today (20 January 2014).<\/p>\n

The government is determined to cap welfare and reduce immigration as part of Britain\u2019s long-term economic plan and ministers want to make sure the system is fair for hard-working taxpayers.<\/p>\n

From the start of April, new EEA<\/abbr> jobseekers will no longer be able to access Housing Benefit if they are claiming income-based Jobseeker\u2019s Allowance (JSA<\/abbr>). <\/p>\n

This builds on new rules introduced in January which mean EEA<\/abbr> migrants cannot claim income-based Jobseeker\u2019s Allowance until they have been in the country for three months. <\/p>\n

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said:<\/p>\n

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As part of the government\u2019s long-term economic plan we have taken action to make sure our economy delivers for people who want to work hard and play by the rules.<\/p>\n

These reforms will ensure we have a fair system \u2013 one which provides support for genuine workers and jobseekers, but does not allow people to come to our country and take advantage of our benefits system.<\/p>\n

The British public are rightly concerned that migrants should contribute to this country, and not be drawn here by the attractiveness of our benefits system.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Housing Benefit changes do not affect UK and Irish Republic nationals, or EEA<\/abbr> migrants genuinely self-employed or in a job. EEA<\/abbr> nationals who have been working in the UK, and are subsequently made redundant and claim JSA<\/abbr>, will not be affected by this measure.<\/p>\n

As part of the government\u2019s long-term economic plan to get people off benefits and into work, a series of reforms have been put in place to make sure migrants wanting to come to this country do everything they can to find a job and stay in work. <\/p>\n

Other measures recently introduced include:<\/p>\n

From 1 January all EEA<\/abbr> jobseekers have to wait for 3 months before they can get income-based JSA<\/abbr>. This will make sure that only people who have a clear commitment to the UK and plan to contribute to the economy have access to our welfare system.<\/p>\n

After 3 months, jobseekers will also have to take a stronger, more robust Habitual Residence Test if they want to claim income-based JSA<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

If they pass the Habitual Residence Test, EEA<\/abbr> jobseekers will then only be able to get JSA<\/abbr> for 6 months. After 6 months, only those who have a job offer or compelling evidence that they have a genuine chance of finding work will be able to continue claiming.<\/p>\n

This week, the government will set out how reforms to welfare and immigration are helping to build a stronger, more competitive, economy that will secure a better future for Britain. Ministers are determined to fix the welfare system to make sure more people can get into work and benefit from the security that a job brings.<\/p>\n

More information<\/h2>\n

Housing Benefit Measure<\/h3>\n

Excluded from the measure are:<\/p>\n

(a) UK nationals and nationals of the Irish Republic<\/p>\n

(b) EEA<\/abbr> jobseekers with retained worker status (e.g. those who have been recently working and have lost their job involuntarily)<\/p>\n

(c) EEA<\/abbr> workers\/self-employed. <\/p>\n

They will all continue to have access to HB<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

Research published in August 2013<\/a> shows that as of February 2013 over 5.6 million people were claiming DWP working-age benefits. Of these 397,000 (7.0%) are estimated to have been non-UK nationals when they first registered for a NINo<\/abbr>. This is an increase of more than 100,000 since 2008 (when the figure was 288,720).<\/p>\n

Contact Press Office<\/h2>\n

Media enquiries for this press release \u2013 0203 267 5106<\/p>\n

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Press Office<\/h3>\n
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\nCaxton House
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\nTothill Street<\/span>
London<\/span>
SW1H 9NA<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

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\n London Press Office (national media and London area enquiries only \u2013 not questions about personal claims)<\/span>
\n 020 3267 5144\n <\/p>\n

\n Out-of-hours (journalists only)<\/span>
\n 076 59 108 883\n <\/p>\n

\n England and Wales (local media enquiries)<\/span>
\n 029 20 586 then 097or 098 or 099\n <\/p>\n

\n Scotland (local media enquiries)<\/span>
\n 0131 310 1122\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Follow DWP on: <\/p>\n