journals.sagepub.com/home/ejs EJSS EJSS they do not constitute an unreasonable burden on the social assistance system of the host country (Article 6 juncto Article 14(1)). After these first three months and until they have obtained a permanent right of residence after a legal stay of five years, their right of residence depends on them having sufficient resources for themselves and their family members in order to prevent them from becoming a burden on the social assistance system of the host country ( Article 7(1)b)). Moreover, Article 24(2) of this Directive states that Union citizens who are economically inactive are not entitled to social assistance in the first three months of their stay in the host Member State. An even longer period applies to jobseekers, more specifically, in the period that they continue to seek employment and have a genuine chance of finding a job and therefore a right of residence in this Member State.Concerning these provisions, the Court of Justice later stated that these are meant to prevent Union citizens from becoming an unreasonable burden on the social assistance system of the host Member State, 7 and that they are based on the idea that the exercise of free movement and the right of residence can be made subject to the Member States' legitimate interests, notably the protection of their public funds. 8 However, the application of these provisions and this case law kept leading to legal disputes. Recently the Court had to rule on the question as to what exactly is meant by 'unreasonable burden' (proportionality test), which benefits can be regarded as 'social assistance', and whether or not the host Member State may make the right to social assistance subject to having a right to reside in that Member State. 9