EU migrants forced to prove weekly income for benefits
EU MIGRANTS will have to prove they are earning at least £149 per week for three months before they can claim state help, the work and pensions secretary has announced.
Iain Duncan Smith said the change will come into force in March. The government is seeking to strengthen EU rules on freedom of movement, which it feels do not define economic migration clearly enough. Under current rules, a ‘worker’ must only prove their employment is “genuine and effective.”
Duncan Smith said the rules would make sure all migrants to the UK contribute their fair share to the economy.
“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,” he said.
David Cameron has set out a number of changes to toughen up EU migration rules in recent months. Migrants now have to take a stronger habitual residence test to claim income-based jobseeker’s allowance and there is a six month claim limit.