Welfare rights confusion ‘failing migrants’

CONFUSION over the welfare rights of migrants is unfairly depriving some foreigners of benefits, the head of the social welfare appeals office has warned.

Chief appeals officer Brian Flynn said some staff handling claims at the Department of Social, Family and Community Affairs were making decisions that were “harsh” or “inconsistent” or failed to take into account all of the circumstances of the individual involved.

Some of the problems involved the child benefit payment for migrant workers. EU regulations direct that the payment should move with the worker and that the authorities in each member state should liaise with others and “ensure that there is a seamless transfer of entitlement”.