Application for settled status, but is it a Lounes case?

[Jenka]

My spouse is a non-EEA citizen who, after 5 years of continuous residence, recently applied for the settled status as a family member of the EEA citizen. Soon after the application, I naturalised as a British citizen.

It has been several months already and we still didn't get any response from UKVI, but now I saw the stories on this forum that UKVI might treat my spouse's application as a Lounes case and refuse to accept the online application.

• Does anybody know whether the fact that I was solely an EEA citizen on the day of my spouse's application matter?
• Is refusal as invalid application guaranteed or there is a chance that UKVI will actually proceed with the online application? Because they could just ask for more details, I don't see any meaningful difference in the Lounes vs non-Lounes application process.
• There seems to be a large backlog of the EUSS applications. It would be unfortunate to waste months waiting just to get the response that we need to re-apply. Should we, instead of waiting, just submit a paper application?

We really want to sort out my spouse's settled status quickly and apply for BC, given the whole BRP and e-Visa mess.

[contorted_svy]

How long has it been? could you lodge a complaint, ask your MP to follow up?
It should not count that you naturalised, as you said it happened after your partner applied so it shouldn't count. You could also request a SAR and see if you find out any meaningful information.