Girlfriend moving from Ireland to UK - Banks, Finances, Benefits + more

bbtb123

Background info..

I am separated from my ex and have 50% custody of my daughter. I have a house with a mortgage with approx. 17 years remaining. I work full time.

My girlfriend is from and lives in Ireland and has a son who has autism. She currently rents but gets benifits which help her cover the cost of rent etc and works full time.

We agreed that she would move over in June when her sons school year finished and she will be moving in with me. Shes also just got a job in my area, full time which has made everything feel a bit more urgent and I want to help make everything for her as easy as possible! 

I have so many questions that could be posted in many sections of this forum but I will start in once place first! 

Firstly, has anyone moved to the UK that can give a good list of what to be done in what order? She wanted to get a bank account first but seems to not be able to get one without a UK number so it seems this needs some careful planning  


Banks- Can anyone recommend a bank that will allow her to set one up easily? She has no direct debits or anything to show her UK address at present. Do any offer accounts that are easier to set up?

Finances- What can I do to protect my investment in my house if things do go wrong as I have my daughter to think about. What would be the best way to go about this?? Is there any way at all it could be viewed as paying rent and she gets some rent assistance for her son?

Benefits- Her son does need quite a bit of extra help and from what I have seen the benefits here are no where near as good as in Ireland. Any advice on this front? Is there any childcare cost assistance?

She would be looking at getting a new car, phone contract etc is there a easy way of doing this when you have just moved? Happy to take it out in my name

I feel like my heads just a bit fried with it all at the moment and shes working silly hours trying to get things done for her work before she moves over.

Any advice, tips or info would be gratefully received!

born_again

You might be better posting part of this in Benefits section.

Benefits- Her son does need quite a bit of extra help and from what I have seen the benefits here are no where near as good as in Ireland. Any advice on this front? Is there any childcare cost assistance?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/benefits-tax-credits

Bank, try asking who you bank with now.

Car is that on credit Or cash?
Phone, PAYG might be best. 

I take it this is Southern Ireland?

_Penny_Dreadful

born_again said:

I take it this is Southern Ireland?

Southern Ireland hasn’t existed since 1922.  

_Penny_Dreadful

bbtb123 said:

Background info..

I am separated from my ex and have 50% custody of my daughter. I have a house with a mortgage with approx. 17 years remaining. I work full time.

My girlfriend is from and lives in Ireland and has a son who has autism. She currently rents but gets benifits which help her cover the cost of rent etc and works full time.

We agreed that she would move over in June when her sons school year finished and she will be moving in with me. Shes also just got a job in my area, full time which has made everything feel a bit more urgent and I want to help make everything for her as easy as possible! 

I have so many questions that could be posted in many sections of this forum but I will start in once place first! 

Firstly, has anyone moved to the UK that can give a good list of what to be done in what order? She wanted to get a bank account first but seems to not be able to get one without a UK number so it seems this needs some careful planning  


Banks- Can anyone recommend a bank that will allow her to set one up easily? She has no direct debits or anything to show her UK address at present. Do any offer accounts that are easier to set up?

Finances- What can I do to protect my investment in my house if things do go wrong as I have my daughter to think about. What would be the best way to go about this?? Is there any way at all it could be viewed as paying rent and she gets some rent assistance for her son?

Benefits- Her son does need quite a bit of extra help and from what I have seen the benefits here are no where near as good as in Ireland. Any advice on this front? Is there any childcare cost assistance?

She would be looking at getting a new car, phone contract etc is there a easy way of doing this when you have just moved? Happy to take it out in my name

I feel like my heads just a bit fried with it all at the moment and shes working silly hours trying to get things done for her work before she moves over.

Any advice, tips or info would be gratefully received!

You can open accounts with Wise and Revolut before arriving in the UK.  I’m not saying they’d be better than holding off and opening an account once she arrives in the UK but it’s an option. 

You’ll be living as a couple, there’s no way she’s going to get benefits to cover paying rent to you. If you’re living together you’ll be assessed as a household. Also, if you’re expecting her to contribute towards your mortgage why shouldn’t she start to build up an interest in the property?

Why a new car? If she has a car in Ireland then she could bring it with her. It would need to be registered with the DVLA and there might be import duties and VAT to pay but it might work out less expensive than selling one car and buying another. 

sheramber

She can apply for a National Insurance number here 

https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number/how-to-apply

She will need one to apply for any benefits.


Any means tested benefits are assessed as a couple so both your incomes would be used to calculate any eligibility.


If you receive child benefot for your daughter

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/child-benefit/

• What happens to my Child Benefit if two families join together?

  If two families join together, the eldest child in the new family will qualify for the £25.60/week payment. If you've other children, you'll receive £16.95/week for each other child, regardless of whether they're your biological children or your partner's children.

Tax free childcare

https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare

Your girlfriend needs to register with a GP.

Consider DLA for her son

https://www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children