abstract:The Habitual Residence Test is the criteria used by the United Kingdom to determine eligibility for welfare benefits such as the Employment and Support Allowance, the Jobseeker's Allowance, Pension Credits, and Housing Benefit. The test was introduced in 1994.
Over the past year officials have been able to "use more detailed information to produce a much more accurate figure of the possible impact of removing the habitualresidencetest, " he said.
But it was facing a legal challenge from the European Commission, "due to the fact that our habitualresidencetest says people must prove they live here habitually before they can get benefit access", Mr Duncan Smith said.