Why has my Universal Credit been declined? I am an EU citizen.

In order to qualify for Universal Credit as an EU citizen, you need to show you have a right to reside and that you are habitually resident.

There are different ways you can prove your right to reside, for example, because of things like your work or your family. The easiest way to prove your right to reside is showing you have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme and that you have

  • Settled status
  • Pre-settled status and another right to reside – if you don’t have another right to reside it will be harder to get benefits

You may need to pass the Habitual Residence Test. This is a test to see if you have a right to reside, that the UK is your main home and that you intend to stay in the UK. There are different pieces of evidence you can use to prove you are habitually resident, such as:

  • Your travel ticket or boarding pass when you came to the UK
  • Your wage slips or tax documents such as a P45 or P60
  • A copy of your tenancy agreement in the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man
  • A letter or email from your doctor or dentist
  • A letter or email from your child’s school
  • Records of membership payments to a local club – for example, a gym membership

If your UC claim is rejected because you failed the Habitual Residence Test, you have options. Speak to a Citizens Advice Adviser to get help.

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