1. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction Tracey Nicola Training Officer Revenues and Benefits Southend Borough Council

2. Welfare Reform Updates Council Tax Reduction (CTR) Consultation Size Criteria Last report 661 affected cases 535 14% 126 25% Benefit Cap Last report 100 affected cases

3. Changes for Claimants from Overseas Changes affect people from the European Economic Area, this is people from: - The 28 countries in the European Union - Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein - Switzerland - Channel Islands and Isle of Man - Turkey and Macedonia Changes made to the Habitual Residence Test and their right to work seeking benefits

4. Changes for Claimants from Overseas Since 1 st January 2014 an EEA national (and returning UK national) cannot claim Jobseekers Allowance as a work seeker until established as in UK for 3 months When Jobseekers Allowance is then awarded to an EEA national, it will be time limited and reviewed

5. Changes for Claimants from Overseas Since 1 st April 2014 an EEA national awarded income based Jobseekers Allowance is not automatically entitled to Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction They must meet one of the other ‘right to reside’ conditions to pass the Habitual Residence Test. They are: - They have legally lived in the UK for 5 years - They retain a worker status – worked for employer and unable to work through accident or illness or involuntarily unemployed OR self employed and unable to work through accident or illness

6. Questions? Questions?