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Self-employed(?) poker player. Absence of health insurance

Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2016 9:09 pm
by pokah_player
I am a Hungarian national looking to apply for a document certifying permanent residence.

I have been living in the UK for over 5 years, supporting myself exclusively by playing poker. I have not claimed any kind of benefits.

I have neither registered with NHS nor paid NHS contributions during the period. I do not have a private medical cover either. I am insured in Hungary, but do not have an European Health Insurance Card. (Didn't bother doing the paperwork.)

I found out about the necessity of having insurance only days ago, when I started filling out the EEA form. Is there any way to get a document certifying permanent residence without having been insured? I can not get insurance for the past, obviously. What are my options?

Thank you in advance for your answers.

Note: I am not sure if I am a self-employed or self-sufficient person. Gambling does not constitute a trade in the UK and is not taxable here. (See http://www.taxationweb.co.uk/tax-articl ... nings.html.)

Re: Self-employed(?) poker player. Absence of health insuran

Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2016 9:16 pm
by noajthan
To be selfsufficient you need to have (had) CSI.

Workers don't need CSI (as they pay tax!).
As a worker, work has to be shown to be genuine and effective rather than marginal and supplementary to some other activity.
Lack of tax registration/payment does not exclude you (under EU law at least).

Re: Self-employed(?) poker player. Absence of health insuran

Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2016 9:49 pm
by pokah_player
Thanks for your response.

I was not employed anywhere during my stay here. My income from poker was not supplementary/marginal. It was my exclusive form of income.

Is there any chance for me to get a document certifying permanent residence? I have proof of having lived here etc. Everything except health insurance.

Re: Self-employed(?) poker player. Absence of health insuran

Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2016 10:04 pm
by Noetic
Self employed who work legally and therefore pay tax do not need CSI.

Re: Self-employed(?) poker player. Absence of health insuran

Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2016 10:45 pm
by noajthan
pokah_player wrote:
Is there any chance for me to get a document certifying permanent residence? I have proof of having lived here etc. Everything except health insurance.
Assuming you are relatively risk averse and relish odds stacked against you then give it a shot;
expect an initial refusal and a fight on your hands.

But for a £65 stake its surely worth a punt.