Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to Article 10 and Article 18 of the Draft Withdrawal Agreement, published on 14 November 2018, whether the Government plans to confer on EU parents who have lived in the UK for more than 3 months but less than 5 years, the same status as a UK citizen in terms of (a) social security benefits and (b) legal aid after the invocation of Article 50.
Answered by Robin Walker
We have been clear that, under the Withdrawal Agreement, EU citizens in the UK on a pathway to settled status will continue to be able to access benefits after the end of the implementation period on the same basis that they can access them now. This broadly means equal access for workers and the self-employed and limited access for those not working. If these individuals go on to acquire settled status, they will then be able to access benefits on the same terms as comparable UK nationals.
Legal aid will continue to be available to all that meet the required criteria under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) and who require legal services that are within scope of LASPO.