Liberal-Tories, ESA and the EU

One of the changes that the Liberal-Tories have introduced that may have gone unnoticed is that a condition for converting Incapacity Benefit to Employment Support Allowance is now that you must be living in Britain.  Until now, Incapacity Benefit was payable whether you lived in Britain or any other EU country under the reciprocal agreements for tax and benefits that Britain has with other EU countries as part of its responsibilities under the single market.  The change may suit the Daily Mail readers, but it would seem to conflict with Britain's responsibilities under the single market.

There are, of course, may reasons why someone claiming IB or ESA should be able to do so whether they are living here or elsewhere in the EU.  It may be, for example, that your wife/husband/partner has taken up a job in some other EU country, and it would be unreasonable for you not to be moving with them.  Where you are living does not at all change whether you have an Incapacity for work or not, and the reason you have paid into a social insurance scheme, is to be able to claim from it whenever you have need of it.  That of course, is not the way the capitalists state seems to view it.  As with Pensions, they want you to pay in your insurance premiums for all your life, but not to live long enough to receive any pension from it for many years, and preferably none at all.  So, too now it appears with state provided sickness insurance cover.  If it was a private insurance company, you would take your business elsewhere, where the coverage was better, but the capitalist state gives you no choice.  Its a matter of "you pays your money, and you take what we decide to give to you!"

Another reason someone might wish to be claiming ESA whilst living in another EU country is because, although they are unable to work currently, they may feel they have a better chance of a job in the other country, when they are fit.  In fact, someone suffering with rheumatic or other illnesses might be able to get a job working in a climate that suits their condition better.

But, in the end it doesn't matter why someone is living in another EU country, the fact is that if we are part of a single market, they have a right to do so and continue to receive ESA and other similar benefits that they have made social insurance contributions to cover.  What the new limitation does is to impose a restriction on the free movement of British workers within the single market, because it treats them differently if they move from Britain to some other EU country than if they simply moved from one part of Britain to another.  Of course, in reality, what the Liberal-Tories want is a single market and free movement for capital so that it an go wherever it can make the highest profits, but not for workers to enjoy the same advantages.