Jargon Buster

Benefits

Cash help from government to help with day to day expenses if you are on a low income or are sick or disabled.

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

The UK goverment department that issues NI numbers and looks after pensions and benefits.

EEA national

You are an EEA national if you are a national of one of these countries:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden

Swiss nationals are also treated as if they were EEA nationals even though Switzerland is not part of the EEA.

However, there are different rules for people from Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.
These are often called the A8 countries.

Habitual Residence Test

A test which the government uses to find out if you are entitled to some benefits.

HM Revenue and Customs

The UK government department that collects tax and National Insurance contributions.

Home Office

The UK government department that looks after law and order and immigration, including issuing registration certificates and managing the Workers Registation Scheme. The Home Office has set up the UK Border Agency to run the immigration system – most people still just call it the Home Office.

Jobcentre Plus

A local government agency that offers help and advice to find a job and make a claim for benefits.

National Insurance Number (NI Number)

Your own personal number which ensures that the National Insurance contributions and the tax you pay are properly recorded on your account.

National Insurance contributions (NICs)

Money deducted from your wages and used by government to pay for public services like the NHS and benefits. Paying NICs builds up your entitlement to some benefits and the state pension.

Registration Certificate

The document which is given to EEA nationals who have the right to stay in the UK.

Residence Card

The document which is given to non-EEA family members of EEA nationals who have the right to stay in the UK.

Self-sufficient

An EEA national who has enough money to support themselves during their stay in the UK.

UK Border Agency

The part of the Home Office responsible for the immigration system – most people refer to it simply as the Home Office.

Workers Registration Scheme

A8 nationals who want to work in the UK have to register with this scheme run by the Home Office.

July 2009

Advicenow - with thanks to the Aire centre, Coventry Law Centre, East European Advice Centre, Federation of Poles, Nicola Rogers and the Roma Support Group.