Civil Partnerships & Benefits

Hello,

My partner is on a Civil Partnership Visa and about to apply for the ILR.

He has never claimed any benefits & has been self employed and able to support himself.

I am Irish (EEU) and have lived here all my life.

I had previously been self employed & earned enough to support both of us however recently things became really bad - my work dried up & I had to claim JSA.

Then my mother became increasing sick & after moving into my council home I started to claim careers allowance.
I also receive income support, housing benefit & council tax benefit.

I am so confused as I have many different views on this subject.

I don't want anything to affect my partners immigration status in this country or his right to apply for ILR.

Can I continue to claim benefits while my partner works to support himself independent of public funds, and will this affect the ILR?

Thank you so much for reading,

Max

When you applied for "income support, housing benefit & council tax benefit", did you give details of your partner's income to the office handling those benefit claims?

hey john! thank you for responding.

no john i did not give details as he was not living in with me for a few months after i moved in to the council property (studio) but i remember telling them i was in a civil partnership. i did inform the council he moved in properly over christmas.

they are aware he is living with me i have written to them in writing and received a written reply.

i did inform the council he moved in properly over christmas.

Did you inform the Council of the amount of his earnings? And that had an effect upon the amount of the benefits?

No John. They did not ask. It's a bit strange actually. The letter my housing manager sent me was to confirm he was living with me.

My main concern is that I've been claiming these benefits on & off during our civil partnership, and it may look bad as I have not shown a steady income during his partnership visa. Ont the other hand he has claimed zero benefits.

They did not ask.

You are under a responsibility to inform them of your income, and the income of your partner. I suggest you tell them, before they come knocking on your door and you end up in Court accused of benefit fraud.

John I have been on careers benefit since claiming housing benefit.

I have no income, my partner's income is less than 600 per month - I will however take your advice & inform the benefits office although I asked my housing manger if I needed to do anything else & she said I just needed to put it in writing to her.

& I've done just that. On the original papers i remember informing them on a question if I had a partner.

I'm not fraudulent nor have I ever been!

I should rephrase my question.

Do you think the fact I claim care allowance (+HB,CTB,IS) frowned upon when we fast track to apply for his ILR?

Thank you for responding so fast!

You are Irish and therefore in accordance with the special agreement between the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you are deemed to have PR status ... Permanent Residence ... as soon as you come to the UK ... without needing to wait the normal 5 years.

Accordingly you are entitled to claim whatever benefits your circumstances dictate you are entitled to, in the same way as a British Citizen is entitled to claim, and any such claims will have no adverse implications on your partner's ILR application.

Thank you so much John, God bless you! That just relieved a tone of stress!

Now my partner & I breath a sigh of relief!

Thanks again,