I am an EU national that first migrated to the UK in 2003. I then returned home in 2006 to come back to the UK in 2008. Then I did the same and went home in 2010 to eventually make a return in May 2011. It is a broken period during which I have always had employment in the UK. However, in the 5 year period I am looking to use for my residency application (years 2011 till now) I had a period of unemployment. I tried to find work myself. After a month decided to register with Jobcentre and was only given National Insurance credits (no jobseekers allowance). Throughout that period I intensively searched for suitable work. I did not want to return to take away or shops after having graduated from one of the British universities with the MA degree. Struggling to find work but supporting myself using my savings I accepted work in a local shop to change it for 3 weeks in a call centre followed by 2 weeks without work and 2 weeks on contract when I learnt I was successful in a long lasting recruitment and was to start permanent job somewhere else but not for another 2 weeks. I have been in this employment for over 2 years now.
I have recently started gathering documentation for my permanent residence certificate and during a conversation with Home Office helpline found out lack of comprehensive sickness insurance disqualifies my application. I have never been made aware this sort of insurance is required for unemployed foreigners. I believe I paid into the system enough through the first 5+ years of employment here and have not even taken from the system as never claimed any other benefits whilst received NI credits only when jobseeking.
Would anyone here know how to successfully push my application through? I mean any arguments there I could use to fight the insurance requirement? I don't understand why the insurance need has never been made obvious. I have beenot here such a long time and found out about it only this week.
