§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the eligibility of (a) immigrants with various categories of limited leave to stay in the United Kingdom, (b) immigrants who are settled in the United Kingdom with indefinite leave to stay, (c) immigrants who enter under the special voucher system and (d) sponsored immigrants to the following benefits: supplementary benefit, family income supplement, attendance allowance, mobility allowance, invalidity benefit, severe disablement allowance and housing benefit.
§ Mr. NewtonThe following rules apply: Supplementary benefit is in principle available to anyone who is present in Great Britain and who satisfies the normal conditions governing eligibility, but the restrictions which apply to immigrants are broadly:
- (a)people who are given limited leave to enter the country and are here temporarily on the understanding that they will be self-supporting and will have no recourse to public funds cannot normally get benefit. In certain circumstances, urgent needs payments may be made to these people.
- (b)in the case of "sponsored" immigrants payment may be subject to recovery from the sponsor.
People from abroad admitted for settlement here, including those admitted under the special voucher system, are entitled to benefit in the normal way.
530WFamily income supplement, attendance allowance, mobility allowance, invalidity benefit, severe disablement allowance (which has replaced non-contributory invalidity pension) and housing benefit are available to immigrants who satisfy the normal rules, including those relating to residence or presence, except that students with limited leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom are not entitled to housing benefit. This exclusion does not apply if the student qualifies for supplementary benefit.