Contents:
Who are they?
If you are a national (or citizen) of one the accession states (or 'A8' countries) that joined the EU in 2004, special rules applied until 30th April 2011. These affected your rights as a worker and so also affected your rights to housing and benefits. These are the accession states:
- Czech Republic
- Estonia
- Hungary
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Poland
- Slovakia
- Slovenia.
On 1st May 2011, the rules changed and - effectively - accession state workers are now treated in the same way as other EEA workers.
This page summarises the rules for people who look for work or start work in the UK from 1st May 2011. If you started work before this date, go to the page on the rules for accession state nationals before 1st May 2011.
What are the rights of accession state nationals who look for work or start work in the UK from 1st May 2011?
You have the same rights as other EEA citizens from that date. Go to EEA workers for information on this.
What documents might you be asked for when requesting housing and benefits?
Your passport or ID card from the relevant country is proof of nationality. If you were required to register on the Worker regieme (WRS), you will be asked to show a WRS card and a certificate covering your current employment. If you have applied but not yet got your card or certificate, you can show a copy of the application for the card or certificate. From 1st May 2011, you just need evidence of employment - if you are working.
What are your rights to housing and benefits?
All accession state nationals
You can apply for accommodation direct from a housing association but you may be refused if you do not have enough money to pay the rent and do not have a right to housing benefit.
If you have worked in the UK at any time
You may have the right to an allocation of housing from the council, to get help if you are homeless and to claim housing benefit to help you pay your rent. Go to the page for EEA workers to check on the conditions that apply.
If you are self-employed, a student or self-sufficient person
If you are self-employed, a student or self-sufficient your rights are the same as other EEA nationals with the same status.
If you are a jobseeker
If you are a jobseeker who has not worked before in the UK, from 1st May 2011 you can sign on as unemployed and you will be eligible for income-based jobseeker's allowance and housing benefit and council tax benefit if you are habitually resident. See EEA workers for more on this.
In England you are not eligible for a housing allocation or for homelessness help. But in Wales you are eligible for a housing allocation and homelessness help as long as you are habitually resident.
If you were a registered worker who is not now working
If you did not complete the 12 months on the WRS and are no longer working, you can register as a jobseeker (see above).
However, it is also possible that people who have worked on the Worker Registration Scheme but lost their jobs or became unable to work before they had completed their 12 months on the scheme may become eligible for housing, homelessness assistance and housing benefit in future. If this is your situation it is important to get advice.
The changes to the rights of accession state workers are new and not every official knows about them. If you are refused benefits or housing in the period following the changes, get advice.
See also:
