Hubby had a serious accident

pippy123

Hi I am currently living in Spain, been here for 5 years, worked our butt off. Have new grandchildren and planned to return home to the u.k to work. Both our children are grown and work in the u.k Sadly my husband had a serious accident and now is unable to hardly move. He still needs further operations and physio. We have just enough money to get home but have no idea of what to do. My father is very ill in the u.k so he needs my support and my husbands father passed away so his mum needs him home, though we cant help much now.

We have to wait for the all clear for my husband to fly 1st but would appreciate any and all advice as to what to expect

Warmest Regards and Thanks

dmg24

Hi pippy123,

Welcome to MSE.

Can you clarify what information you need please? Will you be needing to claim benefits when you come back? If so, do you have any savings or any income? Do you still have a property here, and how old are you? This will help us to point you in the right direction.

pippy123

Hi thank thank you so much for taking the trouble to reply, no we dont have a property, I am 48 and my hubby is 51. Yes we will now have to claim benefits but i am not sure if we can claim anything. (sorry for being a complete ignoramus) As for savings i have sold my car and thats it.

NASA_2

He can claim ESA but will probably have to satisfy the Habitual Residence Test. He may be able to import any national insurance contributions made while in Spain but if the HRT is satisfied then the Income Related side should go into payment anyway.

pippy123

Thank you but i have no idea what ESA is,please would you be so kind as to clarify. I have looked quickly at the Habitual Residence Test and to be honest it totally confused me as to what was needed. Many contradictions. Thanks for telling me about it.

NASA_2

pippy123 wrote: »

Thank you but i have no idea what ESA is,please would you be so kind as to clarify. I have looked quickly at the Habitual Residence Test and to be honest it totally confused me as to what was needed. Many contradictions. Thanks for telling me about it.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/esa/

Its the 'New and Improved' sickness Benefit. Everyone is choosing us over Incapacity Benefit:T

seven-day-weekend

The Habitual Residence Test requires you to be able to prove that you have come to live in the UK for the forseeable future and have not just come to claim Healthcare/Benefits and that then you will go back to Spain again.

Things that class as evidence of this are a rent book/letting contract, a mortgage offer, job contract, a letter from a relative to say you are living with them, having registered with a Dr, Dentist, or having maintained links with the UK such as having a UK Bank or Credit Card account.

Basically to show that you have come to stay and are not just visiting.

Employment Support Allowance (ESA) is a Benefit for people under retirement age who are too sick to work.

Hope this helps.

Oldernotwiser

pippy123 wrote: »

Hi thank thank you so much for taking the trouble to reply, no we dont have a property.

Do you mean in the UK, Spain or neither?

What social contributions have you been making whilst working in Spain?

welshmoneylover

Sorry to hear of your plight. I don't have much to add as I'm not an expert with matters relating to Spain (apart from the sun).

Just want to send you my wishes and hope you manage to get something sorted out.

krisskross

I would think that the first thing you will need will be an address.

We returned from Spain because of my husband's health, staying with my brother for a while. There was no problem with registering with a doctor using my brother's address although we were asked if we were back to the UK permanently.

The difference is though that we had sold our Spanish home so were financially independent.

Were you legally working in Spain with payments to their Social Security system? Or do you have private health cover?

I am sure you will be able to claim means tested benefits once the habitual residency hurdle is crossed. Did you keep a bank account open here in UK? That would help.

Hope it all works out for you.

pippy123

Really informative, seven day weekend Thank you