EEA Nationals and Family Members

This chapter provides some basic information to help guide local authorities in assisting EEA nationals and their family members. It is not to serve as a comprehensive guide to EEA rights and benefit eligibility, so further information may need to be referred to or specialist advice obtained.

15.1 Introduction 

The residence rights and immigration requirements for European Economic Area (EEA) nationals and their family members have significantly changed following the UK’s departure from the European Union (EU) and the end of free movement in the UK.

The Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens’ Rights Agreement (IMA) has emphasised that local authorities will play a key role in upholding the rights of EEA nationals that are set out in the Withdrawal Agreement and agreements with European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states.

This section provides information to help local authorities in Scotland understand how the immigration status of an EEA national will affect their entitlements and to establish what support options may need to be considered by the local authority when a person is destitute or at risk of homelessness.

15.2 Immigration Status

Following the end of European free movement in the UK, EEA nationals and their family members are now subject to the same immigration laws and entry requirements as non-EEA nationals. However, the residence rights and entitlements of EEA nationals and
their family members who were living in the UK before the end of the transition period (before 31 December 2020) are protected by the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement and have been conferred on individuals through the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). It is therefore necessary to establish a person’s immigration status in order to determine their entitlement to benefits, employment, and other services.

EEA Nationals 

The term ‘EEA national’ when used in this guidance refers to citizens of

• A European Union country: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
• Other EEA member states: Iceland, Lichtenstein, and Norway.
• Switzerland

What type of immigration status could an EEA national have? 

People with EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) rights:

• Settled Status (Indefinite Leave to Remain)
• Pre-Settled Status (Five Years’ Leave to Remain)
• EUSS Family Permit (Six Months’ Leave to Enter)
• Pending EUSS application made before the deadline of 30 June 2021
• Pending late EUSS application made after the deadline
• Unlawfully present – resident prior to 31 December 2020 or a joining family member who can make a late application to the EUSS

Other groups:

• Leave to Enter granted on or after 1 January 2021 as a visitor, worker or student etc.
• Unlawfully present – overstayed a grant of Leave to Enter or Remain
• Unlawfully present – unsuccessful application to the EUSS with no further right to appeal

EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) 

The EUSS remains open for late applications, applications to ‘upgrade’ Pre-Settled Status to Settled Status, and for applications from
certain family members who are joining a person in the UK with Settled or Pre-Settled Status.

Late Applications 

The Home Office will accept a late application if a person can show that they have reasonable grounds for failing to meet the deadline. Examples of ‘reasonable grounds’ are given in the Home Office Caseworker Guidance – these include late applications from children, people who lack mental capacity, people who are homeless, and adults with care and support needs.

Article 18 of the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement allows for a person to make a late application and confirms that the citizens’ rights set out in the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement will apply whilst the application is pending. This means that a person who makes a late application to the EUSS will need to be treated as if they made an ‘in-time’ application. Failure to do so could result in the person’s rights under the Withdrawal Agreement being breached.

On 6 August 2021, the UK Government confirmed that people making late applications are protected by the Withdrawal Agreement and will have their rights and entitlements to services protected. These protections have been implemented through policy guidance. For example, Home Office guidance for employers states that a person can rely on their Certificate of Application whilst their EUSS application is pending to evidence their right to work. The Scottish Government has advised COSLA that this is the approach we are working to in Scotland as well.

Automatic Extensions and Upgrades 

If an EEA national with Pre-Settled Status has not applied to the EUSS for Settled Status, then the Home Office may upgrade them automatically to Settled Status. This only applies to EEA nationals resident before 31 December 2020 and who have a 5-year residence period identifiable through DWP and HMRC checks against their National Insurance number. It does not apply to children under 18, or family members of EEA nationals. The automatic upgrade typically only happens in the last month before a person’s Pre-Settled Status was to expire. If an EEA national cannot be automatically upgraded through their DWP or HMRC records, then the Home Office will automatically extend their Pre-Settled Status by 5 years. However, the Home Office also retain the power to curtail (cancel) a person’s status if they find evidence of a break in continuous residence, or another reason for curtailment. It is important that a person who
is eligible for Settled Status is helped to apply to the EUSS, and not wait for any potential upgrade or extension.

Further information can be found in the links below:

https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

Evidence of Immigration Status 

A person with EUSS leave or a visa issued on another basis will be issued with digital status only, this is known as an eVisa. This can be accessed on gov.uk using the ‘view and prove’ system. The Home Office has published information about using the system and when a digital status holder will need to update their personal details.

A person with a pending EUSS application will be issued with a Certificate of Application either on paper or as a digital status that can be accessed through the ‘view and prove’ system.

When a person is encountered without any documentation or digital status, it will be necessary to identify whether they are entitled to make a late application to the EUSS (i.e. they were living in the UK prior to 31 December 2020 or are joining family), or whether they may be in the UK with Visitor Leave. See Section 7.

Leave to Enter as a Visitor (Six Months) EEA nationals who are not entitled to apply to the EUSS are required to obtain Leave to Enter or Remain under the Immigration Rules. EEA nationals who have not obtained a visa prior to arriving in the UK in order to enter for a specific purpose (such as to work or study) will have standard Visitor Leave. They will not be provided with evidence of their entry if they pass through an e-gate or are verbally admitted by a border officer. They will be expected to comply with the standard visitor
conditions and to leave the UK before their leave expires. A person would need to refer to evidence of their travel and entry date to establish when they are expected to leave the UK as they will not be provided with this when they enter.

If a person with Visitor Leave is intending to remain in the UK beyond six months, they will need to seek legal advice as soon as possible to find out what their immigration options are, as these will usually be limited.

Joining family members who have entered the UK with visitor leave will be able to apply to the EUSS in-country.

Joining Family Members 

Certain family members of an EEA national with Settled Status or Pre-Settled Status are entitled to apply to the EUSS, instead of obtaining Leave to Enter under the family migration rules. This only applies to close family members, where the relationship existed on 31 December 2020 and continues to exist, and future children.

Close family members are limited to:

• Spouses, civil and unmarried partners
• Dependent children and grandchildren
• Dependent parents and grandparents (dependency needs to be proven)

For more information, see the Home Office guidance for family members.

Non-EEA national family members can obtain a EUSS family permit in order to enter the UK for this purpose. They must apply to the EUSS within three months of arrival, although if they miss their deadline, they may be able to make a late application if they can demonstrate that they have a reasonable excuse for not applying in time.

15.3 Entitlement to Benefits and Homelessness Assistance 

This section summarises how the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and local authority homelessness services will determine whether an EEA national qualifies for benefits and homelessness assistance.

An EEA national who is in need of financial assistance and/or is at risk of homelessness should always be advised to make a claim for benefits and/or homelessness assistance, as applicable, so that the DWP and local authority homelessness service can investigate the person’s eligibility, which may involve meeting a ‘right to reside’ test. As benefit and homelessness eligibility rules can be complex, a person may wish to access specialist advice for assistance with making a claim. If their claim is refused, they would need to be signposted to a legal adviser if they have not already sought advice.

Right to Reside

As European free movement no longer applies in the UK, a person’s immigration status no longer depends on whether they have a ‘right to reside’. However, the ‘right to reside’ continues to be relevant in some cases when determining eligibility for means-tested benefits and homelessness assistance.

When a person is required to be exercising a ‘right to reside’, this will be considered in line with the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016, as they were in force on 31 December 2020, subject to any amendments. For example, an EEA national will have a ‘right to reside’ if they are a jobseeker, worker, self-employed person, student, or family member of such a person. 

A person with Pre-Settled Status or a pending EUSS application cannot solely rely on their immigration status to qualify for means-tested benefits or homelessness assistance, and must also satisfy a ‘right to reside’ test, unless the ‘dignified conditions’ test is met (see section 15.4 for more information).

For the purpose of claiming some benefits, they will need to show that they are exercising a ‘qualifying right to reside’, rather than any type of right to reside.

A person will have a qualifying right to reside if they can show that they:

• Are working or have retained their worker status, for example, when unable to work temporarily due to illness or injury – a worker will need to show that they either meet the DWP’s minimum earnings threshold for at least three months (the level at which National Insurance contributions start to be paid), or that their work is ‘genuine and effective’. Work can be ‘genuine and effective’ despite not meeting the DWP’s minimum earnings threshold, so long as it is not ‘marginal and ancillary’. 
• Are self-employed or have retained their self-employed status – a self-employed person will need to show that they either meet the DWP’s minimum average profit threshold for at least three months, or that their work is ‘genuine and effective’. Self-employed
  workers can also retain self-employed status during periods of reduced work if they can evidence that they are still running the business and looking for work.
• Have a ‘permanent right to reside’
• Are the family member of an EEA national who is exercising a ‘qualifying right to reside’
• Are a family member who has a ‘retained right to reside’, which may be possible following a divorce or the death
  of their EEA family member
• The primary carer of a child, who is in education and whose parent is an EEA national who has worked in the UK

A person may also have a ‘right to reside’ if they can evidence they are ‘self-sufficient’ (for more information see this CPAG
summary of SSWP v WV (UC) [2023] UKUT 112 (AAC); SSWP v Versnick and Another [2024] EWCA Civ 1454).

Means-tested Benefits

This section summarises how eligibility is determined for means-tested benefits, such as Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Pension Credit and Child Benefit.

Settled Status:

• A person with Settled Status has Indefinite Leave to Remain and will be entitled to all benefits, subject to meeting any qualifying requirements, including the Habitual Residence Test.

Pre-Settled Status:

• A person with Pre-Settled Status will be eligible if they are exercising a ‘qualifying right to reside’.
• A person will not qualify for benefits if their only ‘right to reside’ is as the primary carer of a British citizen (Zambrano carer) or as a jobseeker (unless they are claiming Child Benefit), or if they have no ‘right to reside’.
• A person may still be entitled to benefits even if they don’t meet the ‘right to reside’ test, if the ‘dignified conditions’ test applies to them. See section 15.4.

Pending EUSS application made before 30 June 2021:

• A person will need to show that they:
  
  • Have made an ‘in-time’ application,
  • Were exercising a ‘right to reside’ (any type) on 31 December 2020, and
  • Are exercising a ‘qualifying right to reside’.

Pending late EUSS application:

• DWP guidance states that a person with a pending late application will need to be treated in the same way as a person who has made an ‘in-time’ application.
• A person will need to show, at a minimum, that they:
  
  • Have made a late application (by showing their Certificate of Application), and
  • Are exercising a ‘qualifying right to reside’.

For more information, see Section 7.5.

Leave to Enter as a visitor, student or worker:

• A person with Leave to Enter to visit, study or work in the UK will be subject to the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition. They will be subject to immigration control (section 115 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999) and excluded from claiming any benefits classed as public funds.

Unlawfully present:

• A person who is unlawfully present will be ‘subject to immigration control’ (section 115 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999) and excluded from claiming any benefits classed as public funds.

Other Benefits

For New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), no Habitual Residence Test or ‘right to reside’ is required, but applicants must meet the required National Insurance contribution conditions.

Different eligibility rules apply for disability benefits, including Adult Disability Payment, Child Disability Payment, Pension Age Disability Payment and Carer Support Payment.

A person who is ineligible for means-tested benefits may still be able to claim these benefits if they are lawfully present. Therefore, a person with Pre-Settled Status may be able to claim one of these benefits but not Universal Credit.

However, such benefits are not intended to cover housing and/or basic living costs, so a person may be at risk of destitution and homelessness if they are relying on one of these benefits as their only source of income.

EEA nationals and their family members who are not exercising a ‘qualifying right to reside’ but are at risk of destitution may still be able
to access benefits and homelessness assistance if they meet the ‘dignified conditions’ test. See Section 15.4.

Homelessness Assistance
This section summarises how eligibility is determined for homelessness assistance. (Part II Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (“the 1987 Act”))

The Code of Guidance on Homelessness is still to be updated to include information about changes to eligibility for EEA nationals
and their family members. The information in this section reflects the protections that apply to people with EUSS leave or pending applications, as set out in the Withdrawal Agreement.

Local authorities are required to accept a homelessness application and make temporary accommodation available where they believe a person may be homeless.

Although a person’s eligibility may be clear in some cases, where there is any doubt as to whether they may be eligible, the local authority should accept a homelessness application, provide accommodation, and then make enquiries. For example, this could apply when an EEA national needs to meet a ‘right to reside’ test, which requires investigation before a decision can be reached (Sections 28 & 29 of the 1987 Act). Local authorities should issue a decision on eligibility, including reasons for their decision where they find someone to be ineligible. No EEA national should be turned away from homelessness services without a written decision. They must be
provided with a right to review if a homeless application has not been taken and temporary accommodation has not been provided.

Decisions made by the DWP with regards to whether an EEA national meets a ‘right to reside’ test should not be relied upon by homelessness services, as the eligibility criteria for benefits and homelessness assistance are different. It must also be borne in mind that EEA nationals and their family members who are not exercising the ‘right to reside’ but are at risk of destitution may still be able to access benefits and homelessness assistance if they meet the ‘dignified conditions’ test. See Section 15.4.

Settled Status:

• A person will be eligible if they are habitually resident in the UK, Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man.

Pre-Settled Status:

• A person will be eligible if they are exercising a right to reside (any type) at the time of making their homeless application, as they will not be ‘subject to immigration control’.
• EEA nationals and their family members who are not exercising the ‘right to reside’ but are at risk of destitution may still be able to access benefits and homelessness assistance if they meet the ‘dignified conditions’ test.  If they do not meet the ‘dignified conditions’ test then they are ineligible. See Section 15.4.

Pending EUSS application made before 30 June 2021:

• A person will need to show that they:
  
  • Have made an ‘in-time’ application,
  • Were exercising a ‘right to reside’ (any type) on 31 December 2020, and
  • Are exercising a ‘right to reside’ (any type) at the time of making their homeless application.

Pending late EUSS application:

• The Withdrawal Agreement requires a person who is making a late application to be treated in the same way as a person who made an ‘in-time’ application.
• A person will need to show that they:
  
  • Have made an EUSS application,
  • Were exercising a ‘right to reside’ (any type) before 31 December 2020, and
  • Are exercising a ‘right to reside’ (any type) at the time of making their homeless application.

Leave to Enter as a visitor, student or worker:

• A person with Leave to Enter to visit, study or work in the UK will be subject to the No
  Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition. They will be subject to immigration control (section 115 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999) and will be excluded from assistance under Parts I and II of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.

Unlawfully Present:

• A person who is unlawfully present will be ‘subject to immigration control’ (section 115 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999) and excluded from assistance under Parts I and II of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.

Further Information
The following organisations provide more information about the eligibility rules for specific benefits and/or homelessness assistance:

• Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland 
• Citizens Advice Scotland
• Shelter Scotland
• Housing Rights Information

15.4 Pre-Settled Status and Right to Reside – the ‘Dignified Conditions’ Test

15.5 Entitlement to Other Services

The rules relating to a person’s entitlement to other public services are set out throughout the rest of this guidance. Additional eligibility information relating to EEA nationals and their family members for some commonly accessed services is set out in this section.

Early Education and Childcare
Early education and childcare is funded by the Scottish Government for the following children:

• All 3 and 4-year-olds (1,140 hours – 30 hours per week)
• 2-year-olds who are ‘looked after’ by the local council or where the parent is receiving certain benefits. These criteria are broadly in line with the eligibility requirements for free school meals.

Local authorities also have discretion to provide access to funded early learning and childcare to any other child, as they see fit.

For more information, see section 4.4 of this guidance.

School Enrolment
All children, regardless of their immigration status, can receive state school education.

However, a child with one of the following types of Leave to Enter or Remain will be subject to a condition that they do not undertake study at a state-funded school:

• Standard visitor leave (with some limited exceptions, as outlined in Home Office caseworker guidance)
• A child student visa – formerly Tier 4 (Child) student visa
• A short-term study visa

Free School Meals

Any child can receive free school meals that are universally provided (currently school years P1- P5), regardless of their or their parent’s immigration status.

For children in other school years, they will only qualify for free school meals if their parents are in receipt of a qualifying benefit. However, local authorities have the discretion to provide free school meals to children who are not eligible under the regular qualifying criteria, where their families are experiencing financial hardship.

For more information, see section 4.7 of this guidance.

NHS Treatment
Many NHS services are provided free of charge to people in Scotland, regardless of their nationality or immigration status, but some people may be required to pay for most treatment that is provided in a hospital, or by staff working under the direction of a hospital.

The following people will not be required to pay for chargeable treatment:

• A person with Settled or Pre-Settled Status
• A person with a pending EU Settlement Scheme application
• A person with visitor leave (six months or less) who has a valid EHIC card issued in their home country
• A person with Leave to Enter or Remain who paid the Immigration Health Charge (IHC) when they made their visa application, or is exempt from the IHC

The following people will be required to pay for chargeable treatment:

• A person with visitor leave (six months or less) who does not have a valid EHIC card, although they may be able to reclaim costs if they have a S1 form.
• A person without valid immigration permission (where other exemptions are not met).

For more information about the types of hospital treatment that are chargeable and who may need to pay for treatment, see section 4.10 of this guidance.

15.6 Support for EEA Nationals Who are Ineligible for Benefits

Groups at Risk of Destitution
Due to significant gaps in benefit and housing entitlement, EEA nationals and their family members are likely to be at risk of destitution and homelessness if one of the following applies to them:

• They have Pre-Settled Status but are unable to work due to a disability, health issue, or caring responsibilities and do not retain or derive a ‘right to reside’. Remember to consider the ‘dignified conditions’ test at section 15.4.
  
• They have a pending EUSS application and cannot evidence that they had a ‘right to reside’ before 31 December 2020.
• They are unlawfully present and are entitled to apply to the EUSS but have not submitted an application.
• They have Leave to Enter that is subject to the NRPF condition and are no longer able to support themselves.
• They are unlawfully present having overstayed their Leave to Enter/Remain.

Social Services Support
When a person is destitute or at risk of homelessness, and is ineligible for benefits and/or homelessness assistance, the local authority may have a duty to provide accommodation and financial support.

Social services can provide accommodation and financial support when the following duties are engaged:

• Section 22 Children (Scotland) Act 1995 – families with a child under 18
• Section 12 Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 – adults with care needs
• Sections 29 and 30 Children (Scotland) Act 1995 – aftercare for a former looked after child (age 18-25)

In some cases, a Human Rights Assessment will be required to determine whether social services support can be provided.

Section 22 Children (Scotland) Act 1995

• A child will be in need if their care-giver cannot provide the child with suitable accommodation or care, such as when the family are destitute or at risk of homelessness because the care-giver has no access to benefits or other resources to cover their housing and living costs.
• Eligibility for support will be determined through a GIRFEC assessment.

Section 12 & 13A Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968

• Under section 12, a local authority can provide services, including accommodation, to a person who is in need of community care services. A person will be in need if they:
  • Suffer from an illness or mental disorder or disability
  • Are in need of care and attention arising out of infirmity, youth or age
  • Are in need of care and attention arising out of drug and alcohol dependence, release from prison or other form of detention
• Under section 13A, a local authority will have a duty to provide residential accommodation to a person in need due to infirmity, age, illness, mental disorder, dependency on drugs or alcohol, or being substantially handicapped by any deformity or disability.
• A local authority is not required to meet needs that arise solely due to the adult’s situation of destitution when the adult has Leave to Remain that is subject to the NRPF condition or is unlawfully present in the UK.
• Eligibility for support will be determined through a community care assessment.

For more information about this legislation, and other duties and powers to provide accommodation and financial support to people who are unable to access benefits, see chapters 5-10 of this guidance.

Human Rights Assessments
A local authority may withhold or withdraw support to a person or family that qualifies for support when the person is ‘in breach of immigration laws’ and can return to their country of origin to avoid a human rights breach that may arise due to their destitution in the UK (Schedule 3 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002).

When a person or family qualifies for support under sections 22, 29 or 30 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, or section 12 or 13A Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, but is subject to Schedule 3, social services will need to carry out a Human Rights Assessment to determine whether there are any legal or practical barriers preventing the person from returning to their country of origin. When there are no barriers preventing return, the local authority may refuse or withdraw support on the basis that destitution can be avoided by return to country of origin.

When an EEA national is lawfully present, a Human Rights Assessment is not required and eligibility for social services support will depend on the outcome of the community care or GIRFEC assessment only.

An EEA national will be lawfully present (or need to be treated as lawfully present) when they have one of the following types of immigration status:

• Settled Status (Indefinite Leave to Remain)
• Pre-Settled Status (five years’ Limited Leave to Remain)
• Pending EU Settlement Scheme application (made ‘in-time’ or late)
• EU Settlement Scheme family permit
• Leave to Enter/Remain as a visitor, student, worker, or granted under another category of the Immigration Rules

A Human Rights Assessment will only be required when an EEA national is without Leave to Remain in the UK. However, where a person is identified as being entitled to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, a Human Rights Assessment should not be progressed whilst the person seeks legal advice about making a EUSS application.

Therefore, in practice, a local authority will only be able to undertake a Human Rights Assessment when a person becomes an overstayer following the expiry of their Leave to Enter or Remain, or when a person’s EUSS application has been refused and they have no further right to appeal this decision.

For more information about Human Rights Assessments, please refer to section 11.2 of the guidance.

Voluntary and Community Sector Support
Third sector partners may be prepared to work with local authorities to provide or manage temporary accommodation for people with No Recourse to Public Funds.

Local authorities may want to consider working with the third sector to develop local or regional plans for accommodating people. Local authorities will need to ensure that support has first been provided to establish people’s eligibility for local authority support.

Fair Way Scotland is a partnership of charities working with academics, legal agencies and funders in order to develop a human rights based approach to ending destitution and to practically assist the delivery of the Ending Destitution Together and Ending Homelessness Together strategies. They provide accommodation and holistic services across Scotland and collaborate with local authorities. For more information, see the Fair Way Scotland website.

Local authorities should also keep COSLA informed of any developing partnerships with Fair Way or the wider third sector.

Access to Immigration Advice
Whilst local authorities will be required to work with individuals and families to establish their immigration status, it is important to note that immigration advice should only be provided by an Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) registered immigration adviser or a member of the appropriate regulatory bodies for solicitors and advocates.

The following organisations may be able to provide free advice about the EU Settlement Scheme:

• International Organisation for Migration (IOM) – IAA certified caseworkers working alongside the COSLA Migration and Population Team. The caseworkers provide second tier advice to staff and one-to-one immigration advice and support to vulnerable individuals who have been referred by local authority officers or third sector partners. Local authority staff can contact IOM for information or to refer cases at immigrationadvice@iom.int
• Settled telephone advice line (available in different European languages)
• Citizens Rights Project

A person can find a local immigration advisor or solicitor through the following websites:

• Immigration Advice Authority
• Scottish Legal Aid Board
• Law Society of Scotland

Return to Country of Origin
The Home Office may be able to assist an EEA national to return to their country of origin if they wish to return voluntarily and are without lawful status in the UK or intend to withdraw a pending EU Settlement Scheme application.

When a person expresses a wish to return to their country of origin, they should be provided with the opportunity to seek legal advice about how this will impact on their future residence rights and whether they will be affected by a re-entry ban.

Summary Table: Establishing Eligibility for Benefits, Homelessness Assistance and Social Services Support.