Immigrationboards.com

Hallo. My name is Maciej and I am polish. I life in UK since march 2013, and I am about to apply for British citizenship. I already have permanent resident card and booked test B1. Soon after I am about to apply for Life in UK exam.

However I read some stories, and also some people scared me, that I just lose money, because I will be automatically refused and reason for that is my attitude of taking benefits. I did have working tax credit from 5.04.2014 – 5.04.2015(1017£) and 6.04.2015 – 6.04.2016(356£), but since then nothing.

Can I apply or I will be refused? No criminal record at all, let me add. And I am working since the beginning.

Hello,

I don’t think claiming benefits you’re entitled to is a crime. It becomes an issue if you claimed what you were not entitled to or declared false information to HMRC vs UKVI.

You should be fine with the application. As @mtsgill pointed out it only becomes an issue if there has been any fraud. The guidance notes (dated 14 January 2019) on financial soundness, as part of the good character requirement, state:

Fraud in relation to public funds

An application must not be refused simply because the person is reliant on public funds.

However, an applicant may be knowingly drawing or has knowingly drawn public funds to which they are not entitled. Where this is the case, the application for citizenship will normally be refused. If the person has been convicted and sentenced for the fraud, see the section on sentence-based thresholds for the appropriate period of refusal.

See also non-compliance with immigration requirements where a person may have failed to comply with the conditions of their leave by accessing public funds when they were prohibited from doing so.

So long as you have been legally entitled to the public funds at the time you made use of them, it's okay.

General comment:
economic activity is not a pre-requisite for naturalisation, relying on public funds you are entitled to is not a reason for rejection. Naturalisation comes under British nationality law not immigration regulation where different requirements apply.