The Court of Justice of the European
Union on Wednesday ruled that Italy must grant claims for the
'assegni familiari' family benefit to non-EU citizens who are
long term residents in Italy, even if family members that
involved in the claim are not living in the country.
It said that this is because Italian citizens in a similar
situation would still be eligible for the benefit.
The ruling regarded dispute over social-security agency INPS
rejecting claims from a Sri Lankan national and a Pakistani
national because their family members were residing in their
countries of origin at the time.
"A Member State may not refuse or reduce the entitlement to a
social security benefit to long-term residents on the ground
that members of his or her family, or some of them, are not
resident in its territory but in a third country, when it grants
that benefit to its nationals irrespective of the place of
residence of their family members," the ruling said.
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