Patmalniece v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2011] UKSC 11 Supreme Court

Journal of Social Security Law, Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 136-142, 2011

7 Pages Posted: 3 May 2012

See all articles by Mel Cousins

Mel Cousins

Trinity College (Dublin) - School of Social Work and Social Policy

Date Written: 2011

Abstract

This Supreme Court decision concerns the right to reside test in UK social security law. In brief, UK law has since 1994 had a requirement that, in order to be entitled to various non-contributory benefits, one must be habitually resident in the country. In 2004 in response to the accession of a large number of new Member States to the EU, a new right to reside test was incorporated into the habitual residence test. This means that in order to be habitually resident it is necessary to have a legal right to reside in the United Kingdom. All UK citizens have such a right while only certain non-UK nationals do so. Therefore, it has been argued that the right to reside test discriminates (either directly or indirectly) on grounds of nationality contrary to EU law. The issue has now reached the Supreme Court which, by a 4–1 majority, has upheld the right to reside test.

Suggested Citation

Cousins, Mel, Patmalniece v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2011] UKSC 11 Supreme Court (2011). Journal of Social Security Law, Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 136-142, 2011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2050313

Mel Cousins (Contact Author)

Trinity College (Dublin) - School of Social Work and Social Policy ( email )

Dublin
Ireland

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