Do they get any benefits?
Some EU citizens are entitled to claim as long as they are
working, or actively seeking work, and have a National Insurance
number. Citizens from the new EU countries (A8) are not
entitled to benefits until they have been here at least 2 years or
are registered with the Workers Registration Scheme. To
register they must have a job. After a year of employment
they may be eligible for certain state benefits: child benefits,
tax credit, housing benefit and housing accommodation. People
from other countries must have special work permits and cannot
generally claim benefits.
Can they get extra benefits?
They get no extra benefits. Migrants from EU member
countries can apply for loans or grants for work vehicles, just the
same as British citizens, and this is subject to the same rules of
eligibility. It is also untrue that migrant workers can get
food paid for them by the Benefits Agency.
Are they entitled to get housing?
Migrant citizens may go on the housing register if they have a
NI number, as they have the right to be in the UK. However,
they do not get any preferential treatment and their need is
assessed in the same way as anyone else that applies, and will be
placed on the waiting list accordingly.
Can they be treated by the NHS?
If migrant citizens are intending to stay in the UK for 6 months
or over, they have the right to register as a NHS patient with a
doctor. If they are not residents then they can be treated as
private patients.
Are they responsible for lots of crime?
It is more likely for migrants to become a victim of crime
rather than commit it. Some offences occur due to a lack of
knowledge when people first arrive from abroad, e.g. motoring
regulations. Information is distributed to help to overcome
this and to increase awareness of their rights and responsibilities
here. Anyone commiting an offence is dealt with in the same
way as a British citizen, they also risk being deported from the
UK.
What about driving licences and insuring their cars?
People from the EU or the European Economic Area (EEA) can use
their national driving license for up to 12 months when they
arrive. If they intend to stay for longer than 12 months,
they would need to exchange their license for a British one with
the DVLA. (There are different rules for drivers of lorries,
agricultural vehicles and buses). If the citizens have
brought their car with them, they can insure the car in their home
country, in the same way that British drivers insure their cars to
drive in mainland Europe.