DWP Central Freedom of Information Team

e-mail: [DWP request email]

Our Ref: VTR885

29^th October 2008

Dear Ms Brown

Freedom of Information Request - VTR 885

I am writing in response to your request for information, made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which we received on 3 September 2008. You asked how much money the British Government had claimed back from EU States for benefits paid to EU citizens in the last 10 years.

Where the UK pays any of its cash benefits to a national of another EU State, no money is claimed back. Similarly no EU States claim any money back from the UK for benefits they have paid to UK citizens residing in their countries. This is in line with the rules on social security coordination across the EU.

EU States do, however, claim the costs of health care for other States' pensioners and temporary visitors. The estimated value of such claims by the United Kingdom for the years 2002/3 to 2007/8 is set out below. Information for previous years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

2002-3 £31.5 million

2003-4 £25.2 million

2004-5 £31.2 million

2005-6 £35.0 million

2006-7 £38.1 million

2007-8 £45.9 million

If you are not satisfied with my handling of your request please tell me why within two calendar months of the date of this letter. I will then arrange for someone to conduct an internal review of your request and my handling. The review will be conducted by another officer, usually of a more senior grade to myself. This person will have taken no part in my original decision. You will be advised of their decision in writing.

If you are still not content with the outcome of the internal review you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner to look into the way your request has been handled. Please note that generally the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have first exhausted DWP's own complaints procedure. The Commissioner can be contacted at:

FoI Complaints Resolution

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF
Fax: 01625 545 510

email:[email address]

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Yours sincerely

DWP Central FoI Team