Benefits if returning from abroad.

Janey51

I have been trying to search for an answer to this query with no success.

My sister and OH went to live in another EU country nearly 2 years ago. Bought a house (after being fleeced twice and losing a lot of money)
Had thought to do B&B but no luck. Neither has worked (both in 50s)since going abroad.
Now have no money left and need to return to UK. Unable to sell house abroad.
Would they be able to claim any benefits on return?
What about finding accommodation if they have no money?

I am so worried about them but I cannot give them a home where I live. Even if I squeezed them in I would end up hating them and I could not afford to keep them financially.

I am open to any suggestions.

seven-day-weekend

They have to pass the 'habitual residency test' - in other wiords they have to prove that they haven't come to the UK solely in order to claim benefits and/or medical treatment.

However, and I hate to say this, I think the value of the house abroad will be taken into consideration as part of their assets, and this may put them out of the reach of any means-tested benefits.

I know several people here in Spain where I live, in their position. It's a great problem.

More here about the Habitual Residency Test. Although it is for Colchester, I think it is the same throughout the UK.

http://www.colchester.gov.uk/Info_page_two_pic_2_det.asp?art_id=5914&sec_id=1560

One extract from it is particularly encouraging:
'If you were previously habitually resident, and have returned from abroad, you should not fail the test. So, for example, if you were a British Citizen who went to live abroad and have returned to live in Great Britain.'

I would also approach a Welfare Rights Officer at the CAB on their behalf. Also a Homelessness Officer at the Council. You don't have to give their names at this stage.

Wishing them well.

seven-day-weekend

Could they rent out their house abroad on a long-term let to help financially? The exchange rate from Euros-£s is particularly good at the moment.

Would this be an option?

Janey51

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Could they rent out their house abroad on a long-term let to help financially? The exchange rate from Euros-£s is particularly good at the moment.

Would this be an option?

Unfortunately, their house is in a village which is not close to any holiday attractions. It's extremely rural and the rest of the houses lok as if they are held together with duck tape :rolleyes:
Their neighbours are lovely but live a very simple life...which is what I thought they had wanted to do. But they spent all their money turning a village house into a luxury property with all mod cons.
My sister is worried that when they leave the house in the "care" of an estate agent, it will be stripped of everything within a very short time.

It is all such a mess and I do worry for their future. I have no strength to give them support as my husband died not long ago very tragically. My sister has always run away from her problems but this time she has run out of places to run to.

My heart says "help them" but I feel very bitter towards them for running away from problems within their family which I have been dealing with as best I can.
All my life I have been her lifeline and now i feel as if I am abandoning her.

Sorry....this has turned into a moan and is well away from my original question.

Thank you seven-day-weekend for that information. I will pass it on because it does look a bit more hopeful.
Unfortunately, I think their house will be worth about £50,000 on valuation but it is extremely unlikely that anyone is going to pay that price.
She has said that there are loads of houses for sale and rent because people are coming back to the UK.

seven-day-weekend

So sorry about your husband, you must be feeling dreadful.

As regards your relatives, I live in one of those little villages too, so I know what you mean.

However, there are often people who don't want the holiday attractions, but want the rural simple life, people like these may be interested in a long-term let. We have some people in our village who rent permanently, and another person who is going to rent for several months.

If she doesn't want to or can't rent, then the only option is to lock the house up and leave it. We could actually do this in our village and it would be safe. Our neighbours would keep an eye on it for us and anyway everybody is related to everybody else, so the village is self-policing really.

Could it be an option to leave it up for sale with the agent, but let a neighbour have a key rather than the agent? That's what my Dutch neighbours have done as their house is for sale, a Spanish family hold the keys for them and then the agent gets in touch with them if anybody wants to view.

Another option if they don't have a mortgage is to let their house go for whatever they could get. That's what we'd do. We haven't spent a vast amount of money on it and we'd be happy with whatever we could get. This may or may not be an option for them.

I hope they manage to sort things out.

dmg24

If they do not have a mortgage or other large debts, might it be an option to sell for what they can get (within reason) and cut their losses? I know it isn't ideal, and certainly not what they went there for, but it might get them a fresh start?

Janey51

Thanks again for replies.
They have no mortgage but they ran up huge debt in this country before leaving for their "new life" two years ago so will probably be pursued as soon as they get back.
I doubt they would find a house to live over here if the landlords run a credit check.

Leaving the house is something they are considering but it is fairly isolated in winter as a lot of the local people go to live with relatives in the towns and then return for summer.
There is a real risk of burglary as they can't affod to transport their stuff back here and even if they could, they have nowhere to live.

I think I will just have to stop trying to sort out their problems for them because I have enough of my own to cope with.

krisskross

Janey51 wrote: »

Thanks again for replies.
They have no mortgage but they ran up huge debt in this country before leaving for their "new life" two years ago so will probably be pursued as soon as they get back.
I doubt they would find a house to live over here if the landlords run a credit check.

Oh dear. This may well be a problem. Personally I would sell the property for whatever I could get, even if it was only plane fare back.It would just be a constant worry if they are not there. Then they would just have to face the consequences. How old are they? Ah i see in 50s. How far off 60?

Not much in the way of benefits available until they get to 60. Just income based JSA I would think. It becomes much better when 60 is reached.

seven-day-weekend

They are a bit in the mire, aren't they?

All I can suggest re sonewhere to live is to contact Shelter and the Homelessness Unit at the Council.

Please keep us updated on what happens to them, as there are going to be a few expats I know in the near future in this position (not us thank goodness, we still have a house in the UK) and it would be good to be able to tell them something positive,

krisskross

Perhaps they can apply to be put on the Housing Register at your local council or Housing Trust. As they are older it may well be that there are 1 bed retirement type properties available. Our local one is online and once registered and accepted you will see what is available. I have noticed that several 1 bedroomed flats have only had 1 'bid' on them. so not very popular.

Do they have any medical problem that could perhaps be to their advantage?

seven-day-weekend

Agree with others re sale of house, given their situation, sell it for whatever they can get, even if as krisskross says, it is only the fare for the flights back (although a couple of grand for a deposit on a rental place might be good too).