The Habitual Residence Test
The Habitual Residence Test is applied to people (unless they are exempt categories) who have recently arrived in the country and who make a claim for certain means-tested social security benefits, or seek housing assistance from a local authority.
Benefits policyFamily benefitsHousing benefitsImmigrationWorking age benefits
Briefing
The Habitual Residence Test was introduced on 1 August 1994. The test is applied to all people (unless they fall into one of the exempt categories), including returning British nationals , who have recently arrived in the country and who claim certain means-tested social security benefits, or seek housing assistance from a local authority. For benefit purposes, a person who fails the Habitual Residence Test is treated as a ‘person from abroad’ and is therefore ineligible for benefit.
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