Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2024 to Question 11035 on Social Security Benefits, if her Department will resume its annual publication entitled Nationality at point of National Insurance number registration of DWP working age benefit recipients.

Decisions regarding the development and publication of Official Statistics are the responsibility of the Chief Statistician. There are no plans to resume publication of ‘Nationality at point of National Insurance number (NINo) registration of DWP working age benefit recipients’ statistics.

DWP policy responsibility lies in establishing the eligibility of non-UK / Irish claimants to claim benefits. An individual’s specific nationality, either at the time of NINo registration or at the time of benefit claim, does not play a role in this. Eligibility differs by benefit but is usually determined by an individual’s immigration status, alongside their ability to meet the requirements of the Habitual Residence Test (for income-related benefits), the Past Presence Test (for disability benefits), and / or having the necessary National Insurance contributions (for contributions-based benefits).