Complicate Benefits/Housing/Pension Question

kbkbkb

Greetings!

I am new to this forum so I apologise in advance if I am making an errors here in terms of topics etc... I have a very specific case for a colleague which I would like to understand to help work things out for the future.

This is in reference to a UK passport holder from birth:
- Aged 80 and still employed.
- Never been employed in the UK or paid national insurance contributions but has always returned to the UK as a 'base'.
- Has no pension - private or public.
- He has been living abroad his entire life.
- Owns no property anywhere in the world.
- Has a wife from outside the EU.
- Has three children, 2 of whom live in the UK and 1 whom lives elsewhere in the EU. One of the three children has a UK passport.

For retirement there is nothing in the way of a plan - no savings, no property to fall back on, no home that they own to live in, and no future income.

My question for all the experts out there is this - If they were to relocate back to the UK and temporarily live with family, would there somehow be a possibility of living in a council house and receiving some benefits to cover the cost of living? Any idea what this might look like?

If this is very complicated it would be great if anyone knows of a service or agency or consultancy etc... who might be able to lay out the options for this situation.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

:A

tboo

kbkbkb wrote: »

Greetings!

I am new to this forum so I apologise in advance if I am making an errors here in terms of topics etc... I have a very specific case for a colleague which I would like to understand to help work things out for the future.

This is in reference to a UK passport holder from birth:
- Aged 80 and still employed.
- Never been employed in the UK or paid national insurance contributions but has always returned to the UK as a 'base'.
- Has no pension - private or public.
- He has been living abroad his entire life.
- Owns no property anywhere in the world.
- Has a wife from outside the EU.
- Has three children, 2 of whom live in the UK and 1 whom lives elsewhere in the EU. One of the three children has a UK passport.

For retirement there is nothing in the way of a plan - no savings, no property to fall back on, no home that they own to live in, and no future income.

My question for all the experts out there is this - If they were to relocate back to the UK and temporarily live with family, would there somehow be a possibility of living in a council house and receiving some benefits to cover the cost of living? Any idea what this might look like?

If this is very complicated it would be great if anyone knows of a service or agency or consultancy etc... who might be able to lay out the options for this situation.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

:A

Where does this 80 year old person live now?

How old is the wife?

What is her nationality?

Why does he want to relocate now? Health reasons etc

NeilCr

Some basic information here

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/british-and-irish-citizens-claiming-benefits/

I assume his wife will be coming with him? That likely will complicate things

In many areas council housing is in very short supply. You'd need to look on the website of the council of the area he wants to move into to ascertain their criteria - even then there is no guarantee at all of getting somewhere. And, even if he did it might not be the best place in the best area.

He may be able to get Housing Benefit

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/housing-benefit/help-with-your-housing-benefit-claim/check-if-you-can-get-housing-benefit

I'd suggest contacting the local CAB for generic advice. The likelihood is that they would want to engage with him for a more detailed talk

brewthebear

I only see your question as a means of coming to uk to claim benefits and a house
Do you think that is fair as he has contributed nothing as you quoted and wants uk to pick up the tab for a foreign national wife as well.
This may sound harsh but why should UK fund this just because he has a UK passport ? and his age probably will need care in the not to distant future.

ohreally

How did he think he would cope in his older years, the UK tax payers?

mandb2014

In theory is someone with zero NI contributions isn't entitled to a state pension. If I understand it correctly though they would be entitled to pension credit which would top this up to the same weekly as someone who has full NI contribution years they have slogged for many years to build up. So I guess if this person is allowed into the country they'd also get this in addition to support with housing you'd think?


Its mental if correct mind but...

kingfisherblue

Can't he claim a pension in the country where he lives and works?

Lanzarote1938

Do they intend to come here completely potless and expect the UK taxpayers to fund them? What about their family here in the UK? Can they not look after them?
I would think habitual residence would be a problem.
Does seem a bit of a cheek to expect to come here and get a home, healthcare and pension after paying in nothing.

MEM62

The question would be in what country did he pay taxes and the equivalent of NI?

However, I personally think it is a wind up. The scenario is deliberately written to elicit a certain response (successfully) and some of the information in the original post is contradictory.

kbkbkb wrote: »

has always returned to the UK as a 'base'.

kbkbkb wrote: »

He has been living abroad his entire life.

kbkbkb wrote: »

If they were to relocate back to the UK

parkrunner

MEM62 wrote: »

The question would be in what country did he pay taxes and the equivalent of NI?

However, I personally think it is a wind up. The scenario is deliberately written to elicit a certain response (successfully) and some of the information in the original post is contradictory.

I don't think it's a wind up. The question is full of information, where wind ups usually aren't.

MEM62

parkrunner wrote: »

I don't think it's a wind up. The question is full of information, where wind ups usually aren't.

Nahhhhh....

'Always returned to the UK as a base' but never paid tax or NI here?

'Been living abroad all his life' and then talks about relocating back to the UK. It can't be both and how can you relocate back to the UK when you have never lived here in the first place.

I appreciate I could be wrong (maybe I am a cynic) but it doesn't ring true for me.