My Dad 60 is moving back to England. Need some advice please.

bflare

My 60 year old father who is British born moved to Italy just over 4 years ago. Due to financial problems over there & his health deteriorating he is forced to come back to England this November. He has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome although he has never had a formal diagnosis. This is now effecting his ability to walk. This is one reason why he is coming back to England.
The problem is that he obviously has no home to come to & not enough money to rent anywhere. He will have to live with me initially but I only live in a one bed flat so it’s not ideal. He is panicking a little & getting a bit upset as he just doesn’t know what is going to happen when he gets back. He is worrying about supporting himself financially, his health & accommodation. I have said that the first thing that he needs to do is register with a doctor. He believes that he is not eligible for any financial help until he has been back in England for 3 months. I am just a little worried myself now & really could do with some advice on what direction we need to go in & any places that could help? Any advice would be highly appreciated.

NeilCr

This is what your dad was talking about

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/coming-from-abroad-and-claiming-benefits-the-habitual-residence-test/british-and-irish-citizens-claiming-benefits/

That is about means tested benefits. He may well be able to apply for PIP

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/

I'd suggest a visit to your local CAB for help with this - and what benefits he will become entitled to when the three months are past

Some advice from AgeUK who may be able to help, too

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/returning-to-the-uk-after-living-abroad-heading/

Ames

He'll also have to pass the HRT to qualify for NHS care.

brewthebear

Has your Dad got money to live on when he comes back ? whilst he sees whether he can qualify for any benefits 3 months down the line.
Why can he not stay in Italy and claim local benefits.

Why did he move to Italy in the first place ?

bflare

NeilCr wrote: »

This is what your dad was talking about

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/coming-from-abroad-and-claiming-benefits-the-habitual-residence-test/british-and-irish-citizens-claiming-benefits/

That is about means tested benefits. He may well be able to apply for PIP

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/

I'd suggest a visit to your local CAB for help with this - and what benefits he will become entitled to when the three months are past

Some advice from AgeUK who may be able to help, too

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/returning-to-the-uk-after-living-abroad-heading/

Thank you for that. Some good information.

bflare

[/QUOTE]

brewthebear wrote: »

Has your Dad got money to live on when he comes back ? whilst he sees whether he can qualify for any benefits 3 months down the line.
Why can he not stay in Italy and claim local benefits.

Why did he move to Italy in the first place ?

He says he has some money but I am not sure how much. He did mention renting for a while but would a landlord accept him when he does not have any reliable income or benefits as of yet?


I am not sure if he has looked into benefits in Italy. I assumed that they didn't have the same benefit system as we do here.


He moved to Italy because he fell in love with the place & he thought he could find work but his health started deteriorating & he soon found that his lack of mobility would not allow him to work.

calcotti

bflare wrote: »

He did mention renting for a while but would a landlord accept him when he does not have any reliable income or benefits as of yet?

Not very likely.

D_M_E

There is an organization in Italy called I think ASL or something like that which assesses people for disability benefits, but you must have an Italian residencey permit - usually available from the local commume - to gain admission to the scheme.
You also, I think, required a Codice Fiscale - Italian equivalent of an NHS number.

Also, since he has been resident in Italy for 4 years, did he transfer his NHS entitlement at the time to its Italian equivalent - this involved filling out a form which then got swapped for another one and this second form was given to the Italian health service based in the commune where residence was taken up.
When all the hoops and hurdles were overcome, health care would then be provided by the Italian authorities, who would then, I believe, bill the NHS for the care given.

EDIT - for anyone else reading this, there was a big row about 5 years ago because the UK government made a mistake with the forms and a lot of people got called back to the local Italian health offices and had to re-register.

How this arrangement will continue after Brexit is anyone's guess - likely to be stopped, given that there have been rumours that benefits sent at present overseas will be stopped after Brexit.

bflare

D_M_E wrote: »

There is an organization in Italy called I think ASL or something like that which assesses people for disability benefits, but you must have an Italian residencey permit - usually available from the local commume - to gain admission to the scheme.
You also, I think, required a Codice Fiscale - Italian equivalent of an NHS number.

Also, since he has been resident in Italy for 4 years, did he transfer his NHS entitlement at the time to its Italian equivalent - this involved filling out a form which then got swapped for another one and this second form was given to the Italian health service based in the commune where residence was taken up.
When all the hoops and hurdles were overcome, health care would then be provided by the Italian authorities, who would then, I believe, bill the NHS for the care given.

EDIT - for anyone else reading this, there was a big row about 5 years ago because the UK government made a mistake with the forms and a lot of people got called back to the local Italian health offices and had to re-register.

How this arrangement will continue after Brexit is anyone's guess - likely to be stopped, given that there have been rumours that benefits sent at present overseas will be stopped after Brexit.

Thank you for this I will take a look. I am not sure what forms he has filled out. I do know he has had an operation over there last year. I am not sure if it was done private though.

poppy12345

It's very difficult to find a landlord that will accept those claiming benefits, even if he does successfully claim in the future.

OhWow

bflare wrote: »

I am not sure if he has looked into benefits in Italy. I assumed that they didn't have the same benefit system as we do here.


He moved to Italy because he fell in love with the place & he thought he could find work but his health started deteriorating & he soon found that his lack of mobility would not allow him to work.

Did he do any work in Italy? Employed or self employed? Even part time, so that he became an EU "worker qualified person"?


Under the EU's Regulation 5(3) if he resided lawfully for two years before he became too ill to work with permanent incapacity, you might find that Italy must treat him as an Italian national and provide benefits and healthcare, just as their citizens can have.


We don't know what will happen on Brexit, but it's the same for all those using free movement to the UK.



How has he been paying for his healthcare in Italy? Under the EU's S1 agreement (where their own EEA country might pay the healthcare of retirees) the UK will not have given him an S1 as the requiirment for that is to be in receipt of a UK state pension.Has he been treated as an Italian citizen for healthcare becasue he was a worker in Italy at some point?