Carers Allowance

[manus]

Hello everyone

I am an Irish/British national living in Northern Ireland and I am currently preparing an EEA Family Permit application to bring my wife and children, Kenyan citizens, to live with me.

Shortly after I got married, over two years ago, my wife was about to present an EEA Family Permit application, when my mother took seriously ill. This meant I had to stop work to look after her. My mother died last year at 101. My father is still alive, but disabled and I care for him also.

All through this illness, I have been in receipt of income support and carers allowance.

I have recently got some help in to allow me to work part-time, 16 hours per week, and proceed with the EEA Family Permit application.

Although I am registered as part-time self employed with the tax office and national insurance contributions, I am still receiving Carers Allowance.

Can anyone tell me if my still claiming Carers Allowance will be a problem in the EEA Family Permit application?

I really appreciate any help and advice.

Manus.

[John]

You claiming benefits is not an issue. In terms of applications for EEA Family Permits, the important thing is that you are exercising EU Treaty Rights as an employed person. The fact that you are only working part-time is also not an issue.

[manus]

Thanks John for your swift reply.

This is good news, especially in the light of the advice I was given from The Law Centre Northern Ireland, who said I couldn’t claim Carers Allowance.

The other thing I’m unclear about is how I document I am exercising my treaty rights. I have only recently begun part-time self employment and won’t have any accounts yet.

I had thought about getting my accountant to verify with a projected statement and some sort of letter from the Inland Revenue. Also, as I sub-contract through a company, they are quite willing to write me a letter stating that I am working for them on a self-employed basis.

Any thoughts on this John?

Manus.

[John]

You have registered your business with HMRC? You need to do that within 3 months of the business start date, in order to avoid a £100 penalty.

Have HMRC acknowledged your form?

I think a letter from your Accountant will indeed help, in order to show that you are exercising EU Treaty Rights as a self-employed person.

[manus]

Hi John
Yes, I have registered with HMRC, or should I say my accountant has, but as far as I know they have not acknowledged the form yet.

I have just recently begun self-employment, so I’ll give them a little while to contact me.

And yes, my accountant is quite happy to do up a letter which will include a projected set of accounts.

The company I work through will also be happy to document my employment through them.

Many thanks in the meantime John, you have certainly cleared up a few concerns I’ve had.

Manus.

[manus]

Hello again John

One thing I forgot to ask your advice on is the amount of monthly income acceptable for an EEA Family Permit application. Is it relevant?

As you would imagine, part-time earnings is not exactly a fortune.

It is my intensions, however, to resume full-time employment when my wife comes to UK, but part-time is the best I can do under my circumstances.

Any thoughts John?

Manus.