1. Private Sector Community Support Officer
Lenka Wyatt
Private Sector Community Support Officer

2. EU/EEA Members Expansion of the EU
EU (also in EEA) – Austria,Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal,
Spain, Sweden, UK
EEA (not in EU) – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway
Expansion of the EU
In May 2004 EU/EEA expanded by: - Cyprus, Malta - A8 countries - Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia • In January 2007 other countries joined: - A2 countries - Bulgaria, Romania Ministers were initially advised that every year only up to East European workers would head to the UK. They were taken by surprise by the scale of the influx of 200, 000 immigrants. Which was 15 times the governments maximum estimate. Recently the number has fallen dramatically, nevertheless there is still a distinct strain on statutory agencies.
The European Economic Area includes all the countries in the European Union + others signed up to some of the freedom of movement provisions.
Switzerland not member of EEA
Accession countries

3. Regulations for EEA nationals
Freedom of movement for all
Habitual residency test
- voluntarily in UK
- resident in UK
- intention to remain in UK
- in UK for an appreciable period of time
The right to reside in the UK & eligibility for allocation,
homelessness, benefits
- right to reside for three months
- work seeker (not for A8 and A2)
- worker
- maternity
- self employed
- family members
- self supporting
Freedom of movement
Nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA), Swiss nationals and their families have to come to the UK to visit, live or work.
A8 nationals have the right to freedom of movement, but restricted access to European labour markets and so benefits, housing system.
Habitual residency test – 1980s government concern about effect on welfare benefit system, 1994 test introduced
Appreciable period – 1-3 months but combination of all factors
If not pass then person is treated as person from abroad – ineligible
Also pass if EEA worker, EEA self-employed, A8 working, family member, permanent right to reside
Right to reside
In 2004, test
EEA nationals are not subject to immigration control if they have rights to reside under EU regulation.
Work seeker – looking for work but haven’t been exonomically active in the UK before
Worker – someone who performs work shich is effective and genuine, full time, part time as little as 10 hrs a week. EU original member retain worker status even if temporarily unable to work (illness, accident). Can also be registered at the Jobcentre .
Maternity – continue to be workers
Self employed
Family members – spouse, civil partner, partner, dependats under 21, direct dependat relatives
Self-supporting – Freedom of movement. If you do not work, you must be able to support yourself and your family in the UK without becoming an unreasonable burden on public funds. Unlikely to be eligible for homelessness assistance – not in fact self supporting
Which benefits are affected?
Only the following benefits are affected:
Both the right to reside and the habitual residence test:
pension credit
income support
income-based jobseeker's allowance
housing benefit
council tax benefit
Only the right to reside test:
child tax credit
child benefit

4. Restrictions for A8 nationals
Right to work
Workers Registration Scheme (WRS)
- Registration Certificate
- Registration Card
No registration for self-employed
Housing allocation, homelessness & in-work benefits
eligible while working within the first 12 months
same rights as other EEA workers after completion of 12 months
eligible if self-employed
Restrictions for A8 nationals 
Workers Registration Scheme – register within 30 days, £90
Name, nationality, date of birth, reg. Number, photo
-         new registration with each job
-         breaks less than 30 days
-         if more than start again
In work benefits – housing benefit, council tax benefit, working tax credits
Stop working – not eligible
After 12 months same rights as EEA workers

5. Restrictions for A2 nationals
Right to work
Highly skilled workers – blue registration certificate, no restriction to work
People with a job offer for which a permit can be granted (skilled work where there is a labour shortage, doctors and dentists, domestic employment, some work in the food processing industry) - accession worker card
Students (work up to 20 hrs/w) - student registration card
Seasonal agricultural workers - SAWS card, up to 6 months work
Housing allocation, homelessness & in-work benefits
Highly skilled workers
eligible while working within the first 12 months
same rights as other EEA workers after completion of 12 months
Self-employed – eligible while they are working
Seasonal agricultural workers – farmers are expected to provide clean and sanitary accommodation. No dependants.

6. Identification documents
Information on national passports and identity cards from European Union countries can be found on
Workers registration certificate
So, what Identification documents ….

7. Migration Impact Fund and Housing
May 2009, the Housing Strategy & Development Service, in
partnership with the Economic Development & Social Regeneration
Team submitted a proposal to GOSE for funding through the
Migration Impact Fund.
Medway Council has been awarded funding to help manage the
transitional impacts of migration by:
* providing better access to housing advice and solutions
* ensuring the availability of safe and decent homes in the private sector

8. Housing Advice Surgery for Eastern European migrants
My role
Provide advice and assistance to the landlords regarding migrant tenants
e.g. interpreting (Czech & Slovak language), translating the documents,
liasing with the tenants
Provide advice and guidance to migrant households
Help migrants accessing other services provided by Medway Council e.g.
housing and council tax benefits, and other outside bodies e.g. Job Centre
plus for welfare benefits
Housing Advice Surgery for Eastern European migrants
Luton Junior School (Luton Road, Chatham):
Monday 9.15 – (Lenka Wyatt)
Medway Community College (Magpie Hall Road, Chatham):
Monday and Tuesday 9.00 – (Milota Biagi)
All Saints Children Centre (Magpie Hall Road, Chatham):
Tuesday 9.15 – (Lenka Wyatt)
Luton Library (Nelson Terrace, Chatham):
Thursday 9.00 – (Milota Biagi)

9. Private Sector Community Support Officer lenka.wyatt@medway.gov.uk
Contact details
Lenka Wyatt
Private Sector Community Support Officer
Tel:
Address:
Private Sector Housing
Gun Wharf
Level 2
Dock Road
Chatham
ME4 4TR