Family living abroad returning home without job or money

marcia_

Voyager2002 said:

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.

 No but they do lose the right to free NHS care until usual resident in the U.K. 

sheramber

Voyager2002 said:

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.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-nhs-when-you-return-to-live-in-the-uk#:~:text=Print%20this%20page,2%20of%20the%20following%20documents.

Muttleythefrog

Hmmm... you've received some good advice... however... we need to be realistic here..
we're trying to provide advice via a third party who is acquiring information from a subject who is not forthcoming with his own partner on financial information. As advised habitual residence here would have to be established for benefits and NHS free use but I wonder what rights or financial options they've established elsewhere.

So my advice is actually probably best to stay out of this as much as you can (you've been burned badly already) as it sounds like just the sort of scenario where you'll be running around trying to help others who won't even bother to help you to help them and there is every chance at the end of it you end up giving incorrect advice or advice they're not interested in despite good intention - if they need benefit advice regarding the UK get them to seek it because then they either live or die with the facts they're prepared to supply. It's not even clear if one or both would return and remain here and he sounds like a particularly uncooperative (there are other words I could use.. I suspect you too... but MSE staff are probably busy enough...lol) individual.

There are good benefit calculators online like entitledto... they can plug in scenarios with relevant information they supply honestly including health related which could be pertinent. 

bioboybill

Muttleythefrog said:

Hmmm... you've received some good advice... however... we need to be realistic here..
we're trying to provide advice via a third party who is acquiring information from a subject who is not forthcoming with his own partner on financial information. As advised habitual residence here would have to be established for benefits and NHS free use but I wonder what rights or financial options they've established elsewhere.

So my advice is actually probably best to stay out of this as much as you can (you've been burned badly already) as it sounds like just the sort of scenario where you'll be running around trying to help others who won't even bother to help you to help them and there is every chance at the end of it you end up giving incorrect advice or advice they're not interested in despite good intention - if they need benefit advice regarding the UK get them to seek it because then they either live or die with the facts they're prepared to supply. It's not even clear if one or both would return and remain here and he sounds like a particularly uncooperative (there are other words I could use.. I suspect you too... but MSE staff are probably busy enough...lol) individual.

There are good benefit calculators online like entitledto... they can plug in scenarios with relevant information they supply honestly including health related which could be pertinent. 

You're probably right. I'm only asking to try and work out what's the likelihood of them being able to stand on their own two feet again. As much as I want to help, it's already cost me and I'm wondering how long they'll be living with me if they come at all.

ButterCheese

bioboybill said:

it's already cost me and I'm wondering how long they'll be living with me if they come at all.

You are doing a noble thing but ultimately it's up to you how much further you go.  Take advice on here and use the calculators.  But I would also say expect the worst; even if she can start to claim UC etc, she won't be top priority to be housed as she's safely staying with you and has no dependants. She will be low on the list. If you do put her up, ensure that the ground rules are laid out in full, and even then if she doesn't get a job and/or somewhere to live it still means throwing her out at some point which is harder than it sounds.  How do you tell someone to leave when they've been staying there happily for 6 months already?  WHat has changed for you to suddenly come to this point?  if you throw me out I'll have nowhere to go. These are the tpyes of conversations that always come up.  I hope you have had all of these conversations with your wife (is it her sister?) because this sort of thing can cause arguments!  I'm not trying to be negative but this is what happened with my partner and her ex best friend

As I said, it's nice to be kind but don't let anyone move in with you unless you are fully prepared for it to be a medium-long term thing

tacpot12

Another consideration is whether she should divorce him. If she does return to the UK, settle down and start to build a new life, there is nothing to stop him coming back to the UK and divorcing her and getting half her assets. It would seem better to divorce him now while the couple has nothing. 

Ordinary_Yet_Unique

Personally I would step back and heed the suggestions made by other posters. Your brother has made  choices during the past few years, including financial ones, and has to own them. Likewise your SIL has also been free to choose her lifestyle, including decisions whether or not to work. 

I can only suggest they should be encouraged to check out if they can receive any financial support in terms of pensions or otherwise from countries in which they have lived for the past 30 years. Again they are adults and need to take responsibility for their financial futures.
It is not reasonable for them to expect to be able to return to the U.K. after such a long absence and be supported by the welfare system, having made hardly any contributions in terms of NI and tax. 

LightFlare

gwynlas said:

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

100% this -- having experienced a cardiac/nero event a couple of years ago - I can definitely say it has affected my personality, ability to solve problems and reasoning skills. My OH would certainly agree as well

itsthelittlethings

Ordinary_Yet_Unique said:

Personally I would step back and heed the suggestions made by other posters. Your brother has made  choices during the past few years, including financial ones, and has to own them. Likewise your SIL has also been free to choose her lifestyle, including decisions whether or not to work. 

I can only suggest they should be encouraged to check out if they can receive any financial support in terms of pensions or otherwise from countries in which they have lived for the past 30 years. Again they are adults and need to take responsibility for their financial futures.
It is not reasonable for them to expect to be able to return to the U.K. after such a long absence and be supported by the welfare system, having made hardly any contributions in terms of NI and tax. 

I think that’s a bit unfair. They do have a right to return and claim benefits and use the health service once they have established habitual residence.

starting_again_in_the_sun

We moved back to the UK after 8 years abroad and claimed UC after 2 months.

It was referred to a Decision maker, but they just asked for our passports.

Not sure if it was easier as we were both working and mainly using UC to pay for childcare.