Housing benefit confusion

[loving father]

Dear Members,

I have a confusion regarding claiming House benefit, child benefit and working tax credit. I am on ILR long residence 10 years granted 2016. My questions are:
1) My 6 year old daughter was born here in UK in 2011. Me and my wife were both on HSMP visa at that time. Due to my wife family problems, my wife had to leave UK after my daughter was born and we did not get chance to apply for her visa. Back home, my wife visa expired and they got stuck there. I did visit them afterwards and we were blessed with another daughter in 2014, born back home in india. Now after my ILR, I applied for them as my dependents (spouse and children) and they got the visa in October 2017. Now I am looking for 2 bed flat but realised the rents are sky high in London and besides me being on 25000 per year job, I can’t afford it.
If I apply for housing benefit, child benefit and working tax credit, would that affect my elder daughter MN1 application as she was born here in UK and I have ILR now so I am going to apply for her MN1.

2) If I apply for housing benefit, child benefit and working tax in my name , will that affect my wife’s and younger daughter’s future visa extension?

3) While applying for housing benefit, in about you section the options are ‘British’ and ‘Other’. Should I choose british and send them ILR as I don’t have british passport yet and they will understand or should I choose ‘Other’ ?

4) Since im on ILR , Will all these benefits affect my application for Naturalisation and BC in future?

Thanks for your help members .

[CR001]

If I apply for housing benefit, child benefit and working tax credit, would that affect my elder daughter MN1 application as she was born here in UK and I have ILR now so I am going to apply for her MN1.

No it won't. Child is entitled to register as British. You could have done this as soon as you got ILR too even if she was abroad.

2) If I apply for housing benefit, child benefit and working tax in my name , will that affect my wife’s and younger daughter’s future visa extension?

Housing benefit and child benefit in YOUR name ONLY. Tax credits (if you qualify) MUST be claimed in JOINT names with your spouse. No issue in future if you claim correctly.

3) While applying for housing benefit, in about you section the options are ‘British’ and ‘Other’. Should I choose british and send them ILR as I don’t have british passport yet and they will understand or should I choose ‘Other’ ?

Other as you are not British.

4) Since im on ILR , Will all these benefits affect my application for Naturalisation and BC in future?

No.

Assuming your family are already in the UK though as you cannot claim child benefits if they are not here yet.

[loving father]

If I apply for housing benefit, child benefit and working tax credit, would that affect my elder daughter MN1 application as she was born here in UK and I have ILR now so I am going to apply for her MN1.

No it won't. Child is entitled to register as British. You could have done this as soon as you got ILR too even if she was abroad.

2) If I apply for housing benefit, child benefit and working tax in my name , will that affect my wife’s and younger daughter’s future visa extension?

Housing benefit and child benefit in YOUR name ONLY. Tax credits (if you qualify) MUST be claimed in JOINT names with your spouse. No issue in future if you claim correctly.

3) While applying for housing benefit, in about you section the options are ‘British’ and ‘Other’. Should I choose british and send them ILR as I don’t have british passport yet and they will understand or should I choose ‘Other’ ?

Other as you are not British.

4) Since im on ILR , Will all these benefits affect my application for Naturalisation and BC in future?

No.

Assuming your family are already in the UK though as you cannot claim child benefits if they are not here yet.

Thanks CR001. While applying for housing and child benefit, they do ask for your partner details. Would you suggest not mentioning my wife ? Is there anyway on these 2 forms where I can make sure that ONLY i can claim these benefits and not my wife. The housing benefit and child benefit forms do ask for partner details and there is no option where you can choose that ONLY i am applying for benefits and not my partner/wife.

Also, since i will be applying for only 1 child benefit (for my elder daughter as she was born here and i am applying for her MN1) and not for my youngest daughter because my youngest daughter is on dependant visa so would you suggest mentioning 1 child on these 2 forms ?

Hope my question is not confusing. Thanks for your help.

[CR001]

Thanks CR001. While applying for housing and child benefit, they do ask for your partner details. Would you suggest not mentioning my wife ? Is there anyway on these 2 forms where I can make sure that ONLY i can claim these benefits and not my wife. The housing benefit and child benefit forms do ask for partner details and there is no option where you can choose that ONLY i am applying for benefits and not my partner/wife.

You MUST mention your wife in the form. You are not single so cannot claim to be. You submit evidence of your wife's immigraion status and can make it clear in the form.

Also, since i will be applying for only 1 child benefit (for my elder daughter as she was born here and i am applying for her MN1) and not for my youngest daughter because my youngest daughter is on dependant visa so would you suggest mentioning 1 child on these 2 forms ?

You can apply for child benefit for BOTH children. YOU are claiming NOT the children.