Information for Non-UK / Irish nationals

The Home Office decides the immigration status for all new arrivals to the UK. 

From 1 January 2021 this applies to EEA and non-EEA nationals.

Non-UK / Irish nationals who apply for Housing Benefit must provide information about their immigration status.

They must provide evidence to show that they:

  • have been granted limited or indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK; or
  • are the Family Member of a Relevant Person of NI; or
  • have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme and are waiting for a decision; or
  • have been granted ‘settled’ or ‘pre-settled status’ under the EU Settlement Scheme, and
  • were resident in the UK at 31 December 2020 and were a ‘qualified person’ at that time, or
  • were resident in the UK at 31 December 2020 and were the ‘family member’ of a ‘qualified person’ 

If you are an EEA national, or family member of an EEA national, and were resident in the UK on 31 December 2020you should have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme by 30 June 2021.

If you have not applied to the EU Settlement Scheme, you must contact the Home Office to have your immigration status in the UK confirmed.


A Qualified Person is:

A worker

  • If you have recently left work you may be able to keep your worker status.

Self-sufficient

  • You must show that you have enough income to support
    • the whole family and
    • must have health insurance or
    • health cover for everyone in the household

Student

  • You must
    • provide details of your course and
    • have health insurance or
    • health cover for everyone in the household

Self-employed

You must:

  • be registered with HMRC and
  • provide evidence of your income

Job Seekers and their Family Members are not usually entitled to Housing Benefit. But they may qualify for help if they are in one of the groups above.

A Family Member is a:

  • spouse
  • direct descendant under 21 years
    • this includes a child, step-child, adopted child, grandchild
  • dependant direct descendant over 21 years
  • dependant direct ascendant
    • this includes a parent, step-parent, or grandparent

Distant relatives have more limited access to Housing Benefit. Contact your local Housing Benefit Office to discuss your case.

Find your nearest

You may be an EEA national, or family member, and were resident in the UK on 31 December 2020. If that is the case, you should have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme by 30 June 2021.

You may have transitional entitlement to Housing Benefit. This applied under the EU regulations up to 30 June 2021.


Useful links

You can find more information using the following links:

 

The information in this section is for general advice only. 

Contact your local Housing Benefit office if you have any queries.

Find your nearest:


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