Moving back from Spain and need help with benefits

sleepless_saver

needelp wrote: »

Thank you for your continued help. Our two pensions alone being in excess of £280 a week will be more than the £217.90 the government say is the maximum one can receive to get Pension credit or am I missing something?
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Apologies if someone else has pointed this out, but yes you are missing something. The £217.90 figure actually increases if someone is receving attendance allowance or DLA, and again if someone is claiming carers allowance for them. Check the figures out at turn2us checker http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx .

needelp

Thank you, nobody has previously mentioned this or the website which I will certainly make use of, all very much appreciated, needelp.

brittone05

Needelp - I can't offer benefits advise but just wanted to say that I hope the move back to the UK goes smoothly and that you get the help you will need to find a home and settle back with your family closeby to help care for your wife. I am quite saddened by some of the horrible responses but glad you have replied with dignity and the ability to not take the bait of those who wish for nothing more than a heated debate xxx

needelp

Again thanks to all the sensible posters for your advice and comments. I thought I would update you of our situation as some of our experiences may help others following in our footsteps.

We spent some weeks staying with friends to sort out our future in the UK and to find a home.

I decided not to spend too much time looking for a private let for various reasons. There were many problems being put in our way for renting privately

1) Price.(Two bedroom house £1200 to £1400 monthly)
2) Many landlords will not take our dog.
3) Many landlords will not take tenants on benefits.
4) We have no credit history in the UK.
5) We have no references from banks and utilities etc.
6) Disability adaptations ie: stairlift and hand rails not allowed by all contacted

This was all very handy as it happens as if we had managed to find somewhere to live temporarily it would have un-ticked one of the main boxes we needed to get immediate council help ie: being homeless!

As it happened a phone call and appointment at the housing department of the local borough produced what we were looking for.
Although we, like the many European immigrants, also heading for the UK are treated the same we had one big advantage. Unlike them we tick all the boxes necessary to pass the habitual residence test.
Homeless, disabled, over 55, British citizens, lots of family living in the borough and for many years. Having lived in the borough for many years before leaving for Spain ourselves. A future carer who lives in the borough.

It was worth mentioning our move to Spain was always intended only as a temporary one.

We have been told its 95% likely we will have a home waiting for us on our final return date from Spain next month.

It has not yet been decided if we will be given a house or ground floor flat or more likely sheltered housing accommodation.

For others following us on our trip back to the UK from abroad I would advise the following.

While previously on the phone (They sometimes do a preliminary test on the phone and take notes) and during your habitual residence test do not say you are returning for financial reasons or that you are coming back to claim any benefits (FAIL) even if you are entitled to any, maybe housing benefit once in a home or even mobility don't mention it and if asked say you haven't thought about claiming anything more than you are already. Maybe you already have DLA or the new PIP and Carers, all legally allowed when living abroad in Europe.

You will probably be asked for copies of your last six or twelve months bank statements from abroad and or UK and remember there is a limit you can have that can affect means tested benefits.

Before taking the test get yourself a new bank account in the UK and see your old doctor, or a new one, and get back on a register. All things to prove you are coming back for good.

They may ask for your new UK doctors name and address and your Spanish one too and may write to them for confirmation of your medical situation. Bring copies of any prescriptions you are taking.

Bring with you copies of your padron and rental contract (Or escritura sale contract) and utility bills all proving where you lived in Spain. They may write to your Spanish landlord for confirmation and references if it applies.

In the HRT test you may be asked what you did to find a home, a few names of local estate agents and my comments above re: landlords and cost should answer that question.

Other papers you are likely to be asked for are passports, marriage and birth certificates.

I hope the above helps someone and if you have any questions that I am able to answer please ask.

One thing I could do with knowing please, am I allowed to turn down any properties I am offered? this used to be the case many years ago.

Best wishes, Needelp.

sleepless_saver

needelp wrote: »

One thing I could do with knowing please, am I allowed to turn down any properties I am offered? this used to be the case many years ago.

Best wishes, Needelp.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/homelessness/help_from_the_council_when_homeless/unsuitable_council_accommodation

Nick_C

needelp wrote: »

For others following us on our trip back to the UK from abroad I would advise the following.

During your habitual residence test do not say you are returning for financial reasons or that you are coming back to claim any benefits

You will probably be asked for copies of your last six or twelve months bank statements from abroad and or UK and remember there is a limit you can have that can affect means tested benefits. Before taking the test get yourself a new bank account in the UK.

Great. Just what we need. Advice on how to abuse our Benefits system. Lying in order to claim benefits is fraud.

seven-day-weekend

If you are officially homeless I am sure you will be grateful for what is offered and won't want to turn down a suitable place . You are being given a very scarce resource that many people would jump at.

needelp

Nick_C wrote: »

Great. Just what we need. Advice on how to abuse our Benefits system. Lying in order to claim benefits is fraud.

Firstly in your quote you changed parts of my post to make it look like I was telling people to lie about their financial situation. That's not true it was a warning of the facts. The part (You added to my sentence from elsewhere in my post) about getting a new bank account is just one thing to help prove your intention of moving back permanently to the UK.

The warning about not saying you are returning just to claim benefits is a fair warning as some of their questions are there to trip you up.

Seven day weekend: I didn't mention turning down a suitable place did I? Would I be wrong to turn down a 9th floor flat for my wife who cannot walk a yard without support. What happens when the lift doesn't work or there's a fire and power to lifts are turned off.

Sleepless Saver: Thank you very much for the useful link.

Needelp

jacques_chirac

Classic andy thread!

NYM

needelp wrote: »

Firstly in your quote you changed parts of my post to make it look like I was telling people to lie about their financial situation. That's not true it was a warning of the facts. The part (You added to my sentence from elsewhere in my post) about getting a new bank account is just one thing to help prove your intention of moving back permanently to the UK.

You did write those comments though, so take ownership of them.

needelp wrote: »

The warning about not saying you are returning just to claim benefits is a fair warning as some of their questions are there to trip you up.

You can't be 'tripped up' if you're being honest.

needelp wrote: »

Seven day weekend: I didn't mention turning down a suitable place did I? Would I be wrong to turn down a 9th floor flat for my wife who cannot walk a yard without support. What happens when the lift doesn't work or there's a fire and power to lifts are turned off.

You asked....'One thing I could do with knowing please, am I allowed to turn down any properties I am offered? this used to be the case many years ago.'

SDW answered correctly.