Can someone help with residency confusion?

I want to move to Ireland from the UK and I have just enough money to buy a property to live in once my divorce comes through, but I am on benefits at the moment and awaiting a decision regarding my claim for ESA benefit.

Having read the conditions that need to be met before someone can live permanently in Ireland, my understanding is that I might be refused the right to reside and/or the Habitual Residency because I don't have sufficient means to support myself and will be considered a burden on the social assistance system as I will need to apply for income based benefits.

Is this correct? Is there any flexibility within conditions?

My worry is that I will make the move only to be told that I can't stay in Ireland and have to move back to the UK.

What is your nationality? If you have enough funds to buy a property, how could you not maintain yourself.

If you are a British or EU citizen, you will not be asked to leave.

I am British and I need to buy a property from my divorce settlement because I have nowhere to live and otherwise I will not be entitled to disability benefit.

You say they will not ask me to leave but will there be restrictions on my residency?

Where are you living at present.

I am living in England and have lived here all my life.

Now you want to move to Ireland. Do you have any family to support you there?

British Citizen has pretty much similar rights in Ireland as Irish Citizen. I am sure you will not be be removed.

I don't have family there but I have a good friend who moved over to Ireland with her husband over 10 years ago and they have offered to help me settle in. I just don't want to make this move and then be denied disability benefit because I am seen as a burden on the welfare system.

beaniecat wrote:I don't have family there but I have a good friend who moved over to Ireland with her husband over 10 years ago and they have offered to help me settle in. I just don't want to make this move and then be denied disability benefit because I am seen as a burden on the welfare system.

You should be ok as a matter of EU law.

Thank you, Obie. I feel more positive about this now