The Madness Continues: British Taxpayers Support Thousands of EU Nationals on Benefits
Despite bearing the brunt of the recession, British taxpayers are being forced to pay unemployment benefits to thousands of jobless foreign nationals under the insane European Union “freedom of movement” rules introduced by the previous Tory government.
New figures released by the Home Office show that More than 13,600 migrants from the so-called A8 nations (the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia) applied for income-related benefits in 2008, up from 12,200 in 2007 and 6,287 in 2006.
What makes the A8 countries different from Malta and Cyprus, both of whom joined the EU in the same round of expansion, is that they have forty percent lower income levels compared to the European average. When they joined the EU, it was obvious that large numbers of their workforce would try to seek work elsewhere in Europe.
Most European countries chose to close their labour markets to A8 nationals but the Labour regime granted them full access to Britain.
A8 nationals coming to the United Kingdom are legally allowed to work, but to do so they must ensure they are registered with the Government’s Worker Registration Scheme. They are entitled to some basic benefits, such as Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Tax Credits, whilst they are working, provided they are registered.
Once they have worked legally for at least a twelve month period, without a break of more than 30 days, they can claim social security benefits such as Jobseeker’s Allowance.
Employment and benefits advisers are reporting a surge in the number of A8 nationals coming to them for help. That suggests many are determined to sit out the recession in Britain because the EU madness allows them to claim better benefits from the British taxpayers than from their home nations.
According to the Financial Times, many advisers who have seen a sharp increase in central European benefit claimants since January believe the numbers will rise further this year.
The FT quoted one Ania Heasley, who runs Ania’s Poland, a London-based advice and employment company, as saying that “Polish people are getting very well versed in benefits they might be eligible for. People are now coming to me for advice on whether they are eligible to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance, which was unheard of six months ago.”
The FT article continued by quoting other employment agencies who said that many are determined to stay in the UK because their chances of securing good jobs at home are even slimmer.
Chris Slay, who runs Skills Provision in Somerset, said: “Many people have gone back and are finding life is pretty tough in Poland. I am getting more calls from Poles in the UK whose jobs are ending and want me to find them work. And I am getting telephone calls from Poles in Holland and Germany looking for work in the UK because those markets are tightening just as rapidly.”
* The EU freedom of movement directive was brought into law in Britain by the Conservative Party under John Major. The Labour government has continued unabated with this policy.
