Going home
#1
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Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 1
Going home
Hi . At the moment I live in Malta . Going back to UK early 2018 . Can anyone please tell me if I can register for housing or claim benefits as soon as I find a property . I am 66 yrs retired of course . Thank you in advance
#2
Re: Going home
Someone will confirm or otherwise soon I'm sure.
#3
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Posts: 4,099
Re: Going home
Age UK is a good place to inquire about benefits, and if you know where you are going to be living you should get some detailed advice.
Benefits for the over 60s and entitlements | Age UK
#4
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,114
Re: Going home
In terms of benefits, you will need to satisfy the habitual residence test before you can get certain benefits. You will need to be living in the UK for at lease three months in order to meet the habitual residence test.
#5
Re: Going home
If you go to the main 'Going back to the UK' forum page, you'll see a wikilinks for over 50s. It includes a link to an Age UK page of advice for people retiring home to the UK.
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/Documents/EN....pdf?dtrk=true
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/Documents/EN....pdf?dtrk=true
#6
Re: Going home
The OP should also be aware that most areas of the U.K. have very long wait times for social housing.
#9
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Location: Chicago
Posts: 470
Re: Going home
Having lived abroad for most of my life, I'm a little surprised about the assumptions of social housing as an option in the UK. Here in the US it's really a last resort and not easily available or even desirable. I probably need to reacquaint myself with the subject on my next visit and final move.
Last edited by Richard8655; Aug 27th 2017 at 3:53 pm.
#10
Re: Going home
Having lived abroad for most of my life, I'm a little surprised about the assumptions of social housing as an option in the UK. Here in the US it's really a last resort and not easily available or even desirable. I probably need to reacquaint myself with the subject on my next visit and final move.
#11
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Posts: 470
Re: Going home
While I don't know how long the waiting list is got social housing ( I am sure that depends on the area) I am amazed at the amount of help that is given here to those who qualify. I live in a social housing block where about half are privately owned and the quality of the flats allocated to council tenants is really good. The risk is that one might not be lucky in getting a place exactly where one wants it, but when you think if the comparatively small rent one pays, that could be a risk worth taking!
#12
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 526
Re: Going home
Also your age may help with getting accommodation sooner and other benefits, depending also on your local council and how helpful they are, if you are returning to an area you came from. If you have not been away long, you may be able to re register with the old GP etc .. as you are coming back permanently you will be entitled to health care straight away.
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/Documents/EN....pdf?dtrk=true
#13
Re: Going home
Housing does depend on area and circumstances. But, when we looked last year, all the councils we looked at would not even let us get on the list unless we had been living in the area for two years.
#14
Re: Going home
Here is a link to an age uk information leaflet about returning from abroad, It might be a good idea to ring them. calls to landlines in Uk from Malta are very low cost.
Also your age may help with getting accommodation sooner and other benefits, depending also on your local council and how helpful they are, if you are returning to an area you came from. If you have not been away long, you may be able to re register with the old GP etc .. as you are coming back permanently you will be entitled to health care straight away.
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/Documents/EN....pdf?dtrk=true
Also your age may help with getting accommodation sooner and other benefits, depending also on your local council and how helpful they are, if you are returning to an area you came from. If you have not been away long, you may be able to re register with the old GP etc .. as you are coming back permanently you will be entitled to health care straight away.
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/Documents/EN....pdf?dtrk=true
#15
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Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Finally moving!
Posts: 1,236
Re: Going home
Absolutely. Many or most are just about impossible for practical purposes. But not all areas.