Press Release: Free movement: Commission publishes guide on application of ‘Habitual Residence Test’ for social security / EU spells out rules on migrant access to benefits

Amid a fierce debate about welfare abuse by migrants within the EU, the European Commission has presented new guidelines on social benefit eligibility.

A practical guide on the 'Habitual Residence Test' to help Member States apply EU rules on the coordination of social security for EU citizens that have moved to another Member State was published by the European Commission on 13 January 2014. The new guide gives more clarity about the EU 'Habitual Residence Test' and will facilitate its application in practice by Member States' authorities.

• Primary Source

European Commission: RAPID: Speech, SPEECH/14/11: Commission publishes guide on application of ‘Habitual Residence Test’ for social security http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-11_en.pdf

ESO: Background information: Free movement of people: five actions to benefit citizens, growth and employment in the EU http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-free-movement-of-people-five-actions-to-benefit-citizens-growth-and-employment-in-the-eu/

ESO: Background information: Accelerating action to stop rogue EU benefit claims http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-accelerating-action-to-stop-rogue-eu-benefit-claims/

BBC News, 13.01.14: EU aims to clarify migrant benefit rules with guide http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25716125

ESO: Background information: Nick Clegg backs 'eminently sensible' EU benefit changes http://www.europeansources.info/record/nick-clegg-backs-eminently-sensible-eu-benefit-changes/

ESO: Background information: Labor Market: Does Germany Benefit from Balkan Immigrants? / Migration debate in Germany http://www.europeansources.info/record/labor-market-does-germany-benefit-from-balkan-immigrants-migration-debate-in-germany/

EUObserver, 13.01.14: EU spells out rules on migrant access to benefits http://euobserver.com/justice/122704

Deutsche Welle, 13.01.14: EU Commission releases guidelines on social benefit eligibility, calls debate 'misguided' http://dw.de/p/1Apl3

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