The Social Security (Habitual Residence and Past Presence) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 - screening

Due to the war in Ukraine, the Home Office (HO) is creating additional safe routes for Ukrainians to come to the UK in the form of the ”Ukraine Scheme” and a sponsorship route entitled “Homes for Ukraine”. The final details of both of these schemes are currently being considered and changes will be made to the Immigration Rules to include them.

Urgent legislation is required to ensure that certain cohorts of people coming here UK nationals and those with pre-existing UK immigration status returning here as a result of the conflict in Ukraine and anyone arriving here through the Home Office Ukraine family member scheme are exempt from the habitual residence test (HRT) and the past presence test (PPT) to facilitate entitlement to social security benefits from their arrival.