ILR obtained (Dec 2012) when unemployed and claiming benefit

[3point14]

I thought I'd return after being successful in obtaining ILR despite being unemployed and try to clear up some of the questions and worries I had when my wife applied for ILR last week.

Do check you have the correct form. We found out the form changed the day after we filled it in and if we hadn't checked, we'd have been somewhat stuck. The new form asks quite a few more questions on debts, CCJs and the like.

It goes without saying that you need to have enough paperwork. The man checking our documents was happy to receive HMRC correspondence, Utility bills, Council Tax and Bank statements. All of these can easily cover 2 years if you plan well enough ahead.

We had additional documentation and they took this, though I feel it was not really required.

What was evident was how they wished to receive the documentation. We had it al in a folder, in individual plastic wallets, all very neat and organised.

Forget that. What they want is your form, passports and photographs and then your supporting documents with copies. So you are far better off to have two piles, one for originals and the other for copies, rather than copies with the originals.

They write up on the computer what documents you have and then print out a few pieces of paper before passing your case to someone making a decision. Note that the person taking your documents has nothing to do with the decision, they merely act as document collectors.

Timing wise, we were in for about 6 hours. However, this was largely because the lazy clowns at Croydon PEO had failed to get out their beds and go to work. This was openly admitted by the staff and the reason why despite having a 11:20 appointment, they telephoned us at 08:10 asking whether we could come earlier and then at any time we chose.

Taking your biometrics happens within the first hour but do check they have your number because nothing else can be processed until they have this information.

After giving all our documents over, which was after about 5 hours and took 30 minutes in itself, the ILR paperwork was handed back 20 minutes later. Essentially, you are being processed for only 30 minutes to an hour and the rest of the time is simply waiting to be processed.

Additional comments

They asked only about our child. As not part of the application due to already being a UK national (dual) they seemed to think it would add weight to my wife's application. Thus, though certainly not required, I would include details and passports of any children.

Had we been refused, then I had done my homework. The difference between a single person's JSA and that for a couple is about £40 per week. We had about £10k in the bank, which would cover this apparent shortfall for 5 years, though in reality, we will adjust the claim this week to a joint claim.

On the forums, we were "advised" not to go personal. I thoroughly disagree with this "advice" as it does not allow you any means of communicating with the officials. Financially, the extra cost of going personal at around £400 more, is only 10 weeks extra benefit, if you want to be really pedantic and as applications take longer than 10 weeks, paying more actually makes financial sense !

We should be off benefits soon but I wanted to give first hand experience of going through ILR when unemployed and claiming benefits. I am happy to respond to requests for additional information through this thread or by PM.