Surrey Welfare Rights Unit

This course is for experienced advisers who sometimes deal with complex benefit queries concerning EEA nationals. You will need a broad understanding of the social security benefit system and an understanding of the issues concerning the right to reside of EEA nationals and their access to benefits. Previous attendance at the SWRU right to reside, or other right to reside course covering EEA migrants is advised.

Aims

This is a complex area of law and the EU coordination rules are often ignored by decision makers. The aim of this course is to help delegates understand when the EU coordination rules may come in to play and understand when a client may be able to challenge a decision on that basis. The course will not cover the right to reside requirements for means tested benefits.

Objectives

At the end of the course delegates should:

• Have an understanding of the benefits that are covered by the EU coordination rules
•  Have an understanding of what is meant by competent state and how this affects the benefits that can be claimed
•  Have an understanding of the value of the ‘aggregation rules’, that form part of the EU coordination rules, in meeting residency and presence requirements for disability benefits
•  Have an appreciation of what is required to challenge decisions using the EU coordination rules.