Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the number of benefits claims made by migrants with the right to work in the UK but not in possession of a Biometric Residence Permit in (a) 2015, (b) 2016 and (c) 2017.

DWP procedures require non-UK nationals to provide proof of their UK immigration status upon application for an income related benefit. This may be in the form of a Home Office Biometric Residence Permit or a valid passport or visa stamped by the Home Office granting leave to remain and recourse to public funds. Claimants who provide proof of UK immigration status with recourse to claim public funds are eligible to claim DWP income-related benefits on the same basis as UK citizens.

Biometric Residency Permits were introduced by the Home Office in December 2012. As of 31 May 2015 new regulations require non-EEA nationals, seeking permission from overseas to enter the UK for more than six months to apply for a Biometric Residence Permit from the Home Office.

The Department does not centrally collect statistical information categorised by the type of immigration status document provided and the information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.