Family living abroad returning home without job or money

bioboybill

My sister-in-law and her husband have lived abroad for over 30 years with him working mainly as a contractor. She has done some work from time to time, but hasn't worked for at least 10 years. They both did maybe 5 or 6 years of work here before moving abroad. They sold their house a few years after leaving the UK, but only just broke even on what they had paid for it.

About 11 months ago my brother-in-law had a stroke while living and working in Denmark. he lost his job and lived off savings for the next 9 months while he recovered. When the money had almost run out my sister-in-law wanted to come back to the UK, but my brother-in-law ignored her and spent the last of the money on another month's rent and managed to get a job. However, it appears he isn't really well enough to work. He struggled to get up every day, went straight to bed after tea every day when he got home and stayed in bed most of the weekends.

The way his contract was structured he didn't get paid for 2 months, so I lent them £5K and his father lent them £5K to get them through 2 months. I knew it was a risk that he couldn't sustain work, but we wanted to help them. As I suspected, it all went wrong and he was "let go" after 5 weeks. The money is running out and my sister-in-law is at her wits-end with her husband. Against her wishes he has paid a month's rent again and they are almost potless.

My sister-in-law says she can't live like this and I have used my credit card to pay for ferry tickets to get them back to the UK with their dog, and said they can live with us for now. When she told him, he said she can go, but he's not coming and neither is the dog. He now suddenly claims yesterday that he has a second interview for a job, but even if that's true (which I doubt) it's not clear how he can get through to getting paid. I've made it clear I'm not helping them with anymore money. I'm hoping my sister-in-law comes (she is supposed to be leaving tomorrow), but I don't know what will happen. Apparently he's made no plans for a pension according to my sister-in-law despite earning good money!

The real purpose of this thread is to ask what benefits they might be entitled to, but I wanted to give some background. I've never claimed anything in my life, so I don't know how they go about it. Ideally I don't want them living with us for the rest of our lives!

LightFlare

 Can they not claim benefits in Denmark having lived there and paid taxes (presumably) for the last 30years?

Any reason that she is unable to look for work to support the household ? ( you mention a lot about what he has and hasn’t done, but little about her)

I fear that once she moves in with you then you will have a tough time getting her to leave.

What age are they and do they have any children/dependants ?

RAS

I'm very surprised that BIL has not been able to claim benefits in Denmark? Did he try?

Regarding SIL, going to be really difficult as she is not habitually resident. Regardless of being a UK citizen, until she is habitually resident, she cannot claim benefits.

If she is going to live with you, get on the electoral roll, get a UK basic bank account, using her UK passport. Although not having any sort of bill to confirm residence may be an issue. Talk to the bank in advance. 

She needs to get work ASAP, again she needs her UK passport to prove the right to work. Check out stuff like supermarket work, possibly part-time if she's not worked for a while. Cleaning tends to be even odder hours. Once she's works and has right of residence, she can look at accommodation and benefits. Depending of where she decides to live it might be possible to do a minimum wage job and pay rent with some help.

I'd advise that she also checks whether she can buy NI years to improve her own pension situation.

bioboybill

Thanks for the comments so far. Re benefits in Denmark: They have lived in loads of countries, and they had only been in Denmark less than 6 months when he had the stroke. He had great care out there, but no access to benefits due to short residence and they had money in the bank then.

My sister-in-law didn't work there because only he was able to get a work visa. Prior to that he has basically worked it so my SIL is dependent on him. My SIL actually enjoyed working when they lived in Australia and Singapore.

They are both about 57 and have no dependents.

HillStreetBlues

Can they draw any pension money they should have put away? or return to a country that they paid into the system so could claim benefits?

bioboybill

According to my SIL her husband has made no pension provision, although he generally keeps her in the dark. I am just basing things on what she has been told. It all sounds extremely dire and thoughtless to me. He's earned stacks of money compared to me, but I've made provision for my old age and he has lived for the moment by the sound of it.

sheramber

You have already posted this and had answers

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6595286/benefit-entitlement-returning-to-uk-after-working-abroad-for-30-years/p2

RAS

SIL might want to check a youtube video about an elderly UK citizen who lost her residency rights having lived in SA for many decades. Airport/border subject maybe Gatwick or Heathrow? 

Good news is that she's got a decade to improve her pension situation in the UK as well as buying back years.

As an added note, she may need to establish residency before using the NHS as well. 

Voyager2002

RAS said:

SIL might want to check a youtube video about an elderly UK citizen who lost her residency rights having lived in SA for many decades. Airport/border subject maybe Gatwick or Heathrow? 

Good news is that she's got a decade to improve her pension situation in the UK as well as buying back years.

As an added note, she may need to establish residency before using the NHS as well. 

Someone who is a British Citizen cannot lose their residency rights.

bioboybill

sheramber said:

You have already posted this and had answers

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6595286/benefit-entitlement-returning-to-uk-after-working-abroad-for-30-years/p2

I actually forgot that I had posted about this before, because so much has happened in the last 3 months. My mother passed away, my other brother-in-law got cancer etc. Thanks for pointing this out.

gwynlas

If they are both over 55 they might be able to get supported accommodation depending on provision in local area. Furnisngs easy via FB etc.

If she does leave him it will be his perogative to either follw her back or throw himself to mercy of local services.

Strokes can and do affect peoples personalities