Habitual Residence Test
Work and Pensions
John Hemming (Birmingham, Yardley, Liberal Democrat)
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 30 November 2005, Official Report, column 613W on the habitual residence test, whether someone who has paid sufficient national insurance contributions to qualify for contributory benefits is subject to the habitual residence test for non-contributory benefits.
James Plaskitt (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Work and Pensions; Warwick and Leamington, Labour)
Yes; all claims for income-related benefits are subject to the habitual residence test.