Permanent Residence and Benefits

[ANGELA LIMA]

Hi

My husband is living in the uk for the last 10 years. He is from Portugal. We are claiming benefits for one year now. Tax credits for the children. Will this affect his or my application for PR?

I wait for a reply.

[rooibos]

Pity that no one has answered this question. I was about to ask the same. It will be appreciated if somebody comes with a lead. Thanks.

[secret.simon]

PR is acquired automatically if the EEA citizen or the non-EEA family member of an EEA citizen completes five continuous years of exercising treaty rights. So, so long as they have proof of any five consecutive years of exercising treaty rights, they have PR.

The application is only for a PR card that certifies that they have PR. That is unaffected by tax credits or other benefits to which they may be entitled to as settled persons in the UK.

[Petaltop]

Those who have obtained PR for 5 years as a qualified person (not just residing) and those in work and who are also a Worker qualified person, can have benefits like Tax Credits. Students, Self Sufficients, jobseekers, those with no right to reside as they aren't a qualified person, visitors, are not allowed to claim these benefits.

Don't forget that the Tax Credit benefit payments are being reduced from April 2016 under the new law passed in the UK parliament last week. Announced in the last budget, to reduce benefits for children to below that of Germany, France and Sweden.