Britain sets out new test to limit EU migrant benefits

Series Title
Series Details 19.02.14
Publication Date 19/02/2014
Content Type

Britain laid out new rules on the 19 February 2014 designed to limit the access that migrants from other European Union states have to the country's welfare system.

The new test, due to come into effect on the 1 March 2014, sets a minimum income threshold to determine whether a migrant working in the UK should have access to the wider suite of benefits that comes with being classed as a worker rather than a jobseeker. He later on found a job as a handyman.

According to a proposal unveiled on the 25 February 2014 by the government's official immigration advisers, visas giving the right to settle in Britain could start being auctioned off to the highest bidders. It has already been criticised by immigration lawyers for creating an "eBay culture" for permanent UK residence.

The Guardian reported on the 25 February 2014 that new language checks on EU doctors coming to work in Britain were expected to begin in June 2014, with the medics having to prove their proficiency in English before treating patients.

BBC News reported in April 2014 that Artur Debski, a Polish MP, was living on a low budget and searching for a job in London as he sought to understand why so many young Poles were moving to the UK.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.euractiv.com/uk-europe/britain-sets-new-test-limit-eu-m-news-533610
Related Links
ESO: Background information: Two million British people emigrated to EU, figures show http://www.europeansources.info/record/two-million-british-people-emigrated-to-eu-figures-show/
BBC News, 19.02.14: EU migrants must earn £149 a week to claim benefits http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26254735
The Guardian, 19.02.14: EU migrants face new barrier to accessing UK state benefits http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/feb/19/eu-migrants-welfare-benefits-earnings
Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 20.02.14: EU freedom of movement is coming under increasing pressure in the UK and other European states http://bit.ly/1jI6XOG
The Guardian, 25.02.14: Sell UK visas to highest bidders, say government immigration advisers http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/feb/25/uk-visa-sale-wealthy-bidder
BBC News, 25.02.14: UK visas should be auctioned, migration advisers say http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26334978
The Guardian, 25.02.14: UK visa sell-off plan defended by government's immigration advisers http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/feb/25/uk-visa-sell-off-defended-government-advisers
The Guardian, 25.02.14: Language checks on EU doctors heading to Britain expected by June http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/feb/25/eu-doctors-work-britain-english-language-checks
BBC News, 07.04.14: Polish MP Artur Debski 'living like migrant' in UK http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26923351
BBC News, 15.04.14: Polish MP Artur Debski finds job as London handyman http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27015348
The Guardian, 22.04.14: UK e-Borders programme unable to help track immigration http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/apr/22/e-borders-programme-unable-track-immigration-uk
Social Europe Journal, 29.04.14: The Real Problems Of Migration And Work And How To Solve Them http://www.social-europe.eu/2014/04/migration-and-work/

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