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Hi,

I need some advice please.
Am I able to apply for citizenship if I'm only working part-time and not paying tax (as have small children) and I'm also receiving child tax credit. The reason I'm asking is with my first child when I applied for child benefit they refused and said I was not self-sufficient and therefore not here legally :S
After that my husband was naturalised and is now a British citizen and so are our children.
How can I prove that I was here legally if I was a full-time student until 2010, then worked part-time (paying tax) for a year, then out of work for almost 4 months (not claiming job-seekers), then full-time employment for 2 years(paying tax), then out of work for about 6 months and claiming job-seekers. I then had our first baby and few months later started working part-time but not paying tax. About 2 years later I had our second child and I was not working for 9 months but receiving maternity allowance. Now I'm back to part-time work but not paying tax and I'm also receiving child tax credit. Would they be able to say that I haven't been here legally as not working or paying tax continuously?
Also as I'm married to a British citizen can I just apply that I'm financially dependant on him? If yes, How much does he have to earn to support both of us?
Thanks for any advice.

Do you have a document certifying permanent residence??

I haven't applied for PR card yet.

You require that before you can apply for citizenship.

Do you have a 5 year qualifying period of exercising treaty rights continuously as a qualified person to be able to apply for PR confirmation?

That's what I'm not sure of? I've been in the UK for over 10 years and haven't been abroad for more than 2-3 weeks in a year. But when it comes to work I'm not sure if I qualify. In the last 5 years I've been in full-time employment but also out of work and receiving job-seekers and now in part-time employment but not paying tax.

And does it matter if I'm receiving benefits (child tax credit)?

In the last 5 years I've been in full-time employment but also out of work and receiving job-seekers and now in part-time employment but not paying tax.

How long were the period that you claimed job seekers??

How many hours do you work part time?

I claimed job-seekers for about 5-6 months. I currently work for 16h per week.

Sorry would you please be able to advise me if claiming job-seekers in the past could be a problem for applying citizenship? And what about my current work situation of working part-time (and not paying tax) even if I'm married to a British citizen whom I financially depend on?

helenm1986 wrote:Sorry would you please be able to advise me if claiming job-seekers in the past could be a problem for applying citizenship? And what about my current work situation of working part-time (and not paying tax) even if I'm married to a British citizen whom I financially depend on?

Being employed is not a requirement for citizenship. The time you spent on jobseekers counts as valid economic activity for the purposes of obtaining a PRC. No need to worry