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A8 Countries

The A8 countries were eight of the ten countries that joined the European Union in 2004. These are:

   Czech Republic
   Estonia
   Hungary
   Latvia
   Lithuania
   Poland
   Slovakia
   Slovenia

In 2007, Bulgaria and Romania also became members of the European Union but not subject to WRS regulations. Bulgarians and Romanians still need a work permit in order to work legally in the UK

Registration

Workers from the above countries must register on the WRS scheme within a month of joining a new employer. However, there are no incentives to do this: registration takes time and money, immigrants are able to work without it, and to date no immigrant has been prosecuted for not having registered on the scheme. Consequently, immigration data from the WRS is indicative at best.

By registering, immigrants are able to claim some basic benefits, such as Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Tax Credits. However, the worker must be employed to be able to claim these benefits. If the worker is able to prove that they have worked legally for at least a 12 month period (without a break in employment of more that 30 days) then they gain the ability to claim social security benefits such as Jobseeker's Allowance.

Exemption

Workers that are exempt from registering on the scheme include:

   those who are self-employed
   those who have been working legally in the UK already in the same job that they held on 1 May 2004
   those who have leave to enter on the SAWS scheme before 1 May and started working in the UK under the SAWS scheme on or after 1 May
   those who are providing services in the UK on behalf of an employer who is not established in the UK.

What makes the A8 countries different from Malta and Cyprus, both of whom joined the EU in the same round of expansion, is that due to the low income levels in these countries - per capita they are around 40% of the European average - it was feared that their accession would lead to migration on a massive scale, as their citizens sought to benefit from the better wages available elsewhere within the European Economic Area.

While A8 nationals have the right to travel in the EU, many European countries close their labour markets to them. Britain decided to allow A8 nationals access to the labour market, under certain conditions.

A8 nationals coming to the United Kingdom are legally allowed to work, but to do so they must ensure they are registered with the Government's Worker Registration Scheme. They are entitled to some basic benefits, such as Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Tax Credits, whilst they are working provided they are registered.

Only after they have worked legally for at least a12 month period, without a break of more than 30 days, can they claim social security benefits such as Jobseeker's Allowance.

Otherwise, A8 nationals who are work-seekers must be self-sufficient and are unlikely to be eligible for income-related benefits.