To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of any additional amount of benefits to be claimed as a result of any increase in the number of Romanian and Bulgarian nationals expected to migrate to the UK over the next three years.

It is not possible to accurately forecast the likely inflow from Romania and Bulgaria once restrictions are lifted, the inflow will depend on a variety of factors. Therefore we are unable to predict the additional cost of benefits.

From 1 January 2014 Romania and Bulgarian nationals will have the same benefit entitlement as other migrants who are a ‘qualified person’ from the European Union—i.e. they exercise a right to reside as a worker; a self-employed person; a job seeker; a self-sufficient person or a student.

Contributory benefits, such as contribution based jobseeker’s allowance, are payable to anyone who satisfies the contribution and other conditions for the benefit, regardless of nationality.

For income-related benefits each claimant must satisfy the habitual residence test before they are eligible to claim means-tested benefits.

Economically inactive people, who are neither in work or seeking work, are required to be self-sufficient and have comprehensive medical insurance. Similarly students are required to be self-sufficient. Therefore, under domestic legislation economically inactive EEA nationals and their family members cannot claim income-related benefits.