« Michael Ring on emigrants in US, Britain | Main | ILIR leader takes aim at critic »
Over 1600 Irish refused benefits under HRC
By Noreen Bowden | November 19, 2007
There were 1,629 Irish citizens and returning emigrants that have been refused welfare benefits under the habitual residency condition, according to a report by Carl O’Brien in today’s Irish Times.
Emigrant Advice staff member Joe O’Brien says that the situtaion is detrimental to those intending to return:
“It’s something that needs to be tackled immediately because it’s unacceptable that returning Irish emigrants should be refused the safety and the protection of the welfare system on their return.
“The restrictions are unfair because they don’t take into account how long a person may have lived her prior to the welfare rules changing. As a result, we’ve asked the department to make alterations to the application of the habitual residency condition.”
The report says the Department of Social and Family Affairs said 90% of returning emigrants have their applications accepted. Emigrant Advice says they know of a number of returning emigrants and missionaries who have been refused social assistance.
Topics: Latest News, return migration, social welfare | 2 Comments »
July 29th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
I am Irish and have been refused welfare benefit, I have been here since Feb 08 . I would like to meet or exchange mail with other people who have been affected .
contact me
comsitsan@yahoo.com
March 8th, 2014 at 5:35 pm
Just came across my post again 5 years and a few months later . I survived almost starved to death , It has cost the government €150,000 to give me back my right to habitual residence and it will cost them more before I’m done and dead . Nobody contacted me while i was starving so don’t contact me now , Ya’al can starve