Stewart Jackson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stewart Jackson on 2014-04-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of changes in the number of nationals of other EU countries accessing benefits in the Peterborough City Council area following changes to (a) the habitual residence test and (b) the minimum earnings threshold; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey

The department does not currently hold this information.

While we check the immigration status of benefit claimants to ensure the benefit is paid properly and to prevent fraud, traditionally that information has not been collected as part of the payment administrative systems.

However, the Government is looking at ways to reform the current administrative system under Universal Credit that will record nationality and immigration status of migrants who make a claim.