PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Welfare Reform and Work Bill (9 July 2015)

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which provisions in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill apply (a) only to British citizens resident in the UK, (b) EU citizens resident in the UK and (c) any person with an entitlement to work in the UK.

Asked by:
Sir Christopher Chope (Conservative)

Provisions in the Bill relating to benefit measures will apply to anyone in receipt of those benefits. Entitlement to income-related benefits, Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit depends first on the claimant having a legal right to reside in the UK and then whether that right enables a claimant to access such support.

In addition, persons subject to immigration control (including persons with permission to work in the UK) are generally not entitled to non-contributory benefits, Child Benefit and tax credits.

The reductions in social housing rents will apply to current or future tenants of social housing in England (with some exceptions provided for in clause20 of the Welfare Reform and Work Bill) regardless of citizenship, immigration status, or entitlement to work in the UK.

Answered by:
Priti Patel (Conservative)
14 July 2015