Immigration Solicitors

Prime Minister David Cameron has announced that benefits eligibility for EU migrants in the UK is to be cut from six months to just three months of claiming, unless migrants have a credible prospect of getting a job in the UK.

The government has already introduced a waiting period of three months before EU migrants new to the UK can claim welfare benefits.

Mr Cameron says that the time limit on how long EU migrants can claim out-of-work benefits will reduce the “magnetic pull” of Britain’s welfare system and prevent benefits tourism.

Mr Cameron also warned illegal immigrants: "We will find you, we will send you home."

Overall, restrictions on benefits introduced this year could save the taxpayer £500 million over five years.

Limits on claiming welfare were introduced in response to public and media concerns that the lifting of border restrictions on Romania and Bulgaria on 1 January would result in a new wave of benefit tourism from those countries.

However, the anticipated influx of new citizens from Romania and Bulgaria has failed to materialise.

The Labour Party criticised the Prime Minister’s new measures to curb benefit tourism, saying the announcement masked a record of failure on immigration.

Labour is calling for firm action on immigration – net migration figures have remained at more than 200,000 annually in the last few years, despite David Cameron’s pledge to reduce annual net migration to tens of thousands every year.

In response to Mr Cameron’s announcement on Tuesday (29/07/14), European Commission (EC) spokesman Jonathan Todd said that migrant workers had been “of immense economic benefit” to EU member states – and had filled skills gaps and labour shortages.

The EC is to examine the British government’s new policy on restricting benefit claims by EU migrants to three months, to make sure it complies with EU legislation.

Duncan Lewis Immigration Lawyers

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of immigration lawyers and Legal Aid solicitors and can advise EU migrants on a wide range of immigration matters, including right to work in the UK, housing benefit and out-of-work benefits in the UK and student visas.

Duncan Lewis immigration lawyers also offer advice on UK immigration from outside the EU, including asylum in Britain and asylum appeals.

For expert legal advice on UK immigration and asylum, contact Duncan Lewis immigration lawyers on 020 7923 4020.