It says the UK government must begin allow immigrants claim benefits after their arrival into the UK. The European Commission has called any such rules prohibiting EU migrants from claiming benefits in the UK as violation of human rights.
Ruling could result in mass scale EU migration—If the current restrictions on EU migrants are axed by the UK, this could lead to mass scale immigration of Eastern Europeans into the UK.
It would cost taxpayers around £2.5billion annually towards extra welfare. Current UK immigration rules require all EU migrants to undergo a habitual residency test in order to prove their eligibility for benefits in the UK.
They need to show that they had either been employed or have a good chance to get employment in the UK. Only then can they apply for pension credit, income support, jobseekers’ allowance and job support allowance.
Right to reside test violates human rights—The EU(European) Commission has claimed that requirement of clearing the ‘right to reside test’ is a breach of human rights and smacks of discrimination against EU nationals for becoming eligible for state welfare payouts.
European Commission has threatened that it would drag the UK government to the Court of Justice of the EU if it does not take immediate steps to remove such requirements for EU migrants.
The commission has given two months time to enforce changed UK immigration rules for EU migrants.
UK calls it an unwelcome development--However, if such rules are scrapped, it would cast a big hole in the pocket of the UK’s Department for Work and Pensions.
As per the estimates, it would cost anything between £620million and £2.46billion annually and make a mockery of the plans to cut public spending.
The UK cannot afford to open its doors to those who want to get benefits without working and paying taxes in the UK, claimed UK Employment Minister Chris Grayling calling it an unwelcome development. UK supports only those who support the nation’s economy, he added.
He said that the European Commission should rather focus on more pressing issues engulfing Europe. Such a step, if introduced, would allow anyone to move to the UK and claim benefits without any intention of working here.