Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how often her Department reviews the eligibility of foreign nationals for (a) Universal Credit and (b) other benefits.

In order to receive taxpayer-funded benefits (public funds benefits) such as Universal Credit or Personal Independence Payments, an individual must either be a British or Irish citizen or hold a valid UK immigration status that allows them to access such benefits. Whether someone holds a valid immigration status or is a British or Irish citizen is tested at the outset of a customer’s claim through DWP residency tests and verified through information from the Home Office.

If a foreign national customer reports a change of circumstances which could affect their eligibility for benefits, or DWP is made aware of such a change in circumstances by another government department (such as the Home Office), then the relevant claim will be reviewed and a decision made accordingly. This includes, for example, if a customer’s immigration status changes and they no longer have recourse to public funds – in which case, their claim will be closed. If a customer has a time-limited immigration status which allows them access to public funds benefits then this will be marked on the claim and checked accordingly in future to ensure they are still eligible to receive benefits.

For DWP contributory benefits, customers will need to satisfy other eligibility criteria such as having sufficient employment periods and national insurance contributions. For a customer to have been employed and therefore meet the contributory benefits criteria, a valid National Insurance number is required, meaning their identity and valid immigration status will have been verified separately.