Petition · past parliament

Stop treating Expats coming home to the UK the same as immigrants

Closed 692 signatures

What the petition asks

British residents have to wait 6 weeks to claim Job Seekers Allowance and other benefits ?
EU nationals entering the country have to wait 3 months, BUT If you have lived abroad and return to the UK you are classed as an immigrant in your own country and made to wait 3 months too.
British born citizens are not immigrants. The government is discriminating against it’s own people many of which worked in the UK for years.
There is talk of increasing this limit to 6 months, maybe more which is fine, immigrants shouldn't be entering the country expecting to be supported by the benefits system, but UK passport holders should be exempt from this, we should look after our own people first. Some people have no choice, they have to come home, they need help not rejection.

Timeline

21 Jul 2015 Petition opened for signatures
21 Jan 2016 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 692
Status Closed
Opened 21 Jul 2015
Closed 21 Jan 2016

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.