Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will publish guidance on welfare benefit entitlement for EU nationals who have not made an application under the EU Settlement Scheme by the deadline of 30 June 2021.

As with citizens of countries elsewhere in the world, EEA citizens who missed the 30 June deadline to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, and do not have any other form of immigration leave, no longer have their rights protected, including access to benefits.

However, a person granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme on the basis of a late application will have the same rights from the date they are granted status, as a person who applied by the deadline.

The Home Office has already published guidance on late applications to the EU Settlement Scheme at Immigration Rules Appendix EU - Immigration Rules - Guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Home Office is working closely with DWP and HMRC to ensure all those eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme apply, including contacting people to encourage them to do so. We will also expediate outstanding applications to the EUSS, including late applications where there are compelling or compassionate grounds for doing so.