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IDS proposes 'two-year ban' on migrant benefits

The Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has proposed that EU migrants should be banned from claiming welfare payments for up to two years after arriving in Britain to stop them exploiting the benefits system, according to the Sunday Times.

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UK concerned over 'benefit tourism' through migration

There is a growing concern about 'benefit tourism', Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has said, after suggesting that EU migrants should be banned from receiving benefits for up to two years.

Speaking to the Sunday Times (£), he added:

Demonstrate that you are committed to the country, that you are a resident and that you are here for a period of time and you are generally taking work and that you are contributing.

At that particular point . . . it could be a year, it could be two years, after that, then we will consider you a resident of the UK and be happy to pay you benefits

Mr Duncan Smith also told the newspaper that he had begun building an alliance of countries including Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Finland to attack “benefits tourism”.

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