UK Family Visa Financial Requirement: State Benefits and Entitlements
Monday 25th July 2022
Financial Requirements for Family Sponsorship:
Exploring the financial criteria for Sponsors wishing to sponsor family members to enter or remain in the UK.
Understanding which income sources can be used to meet the financial requirements and which cannot.
Financial Requirements under Appendix FM:
• Specifying the income thresholds for sponsoring family
members under Appendix FM:
• Gross annual income of at least £29,000.
• Savings of £16,000 plus additional savings based on income
difference.
• Meeting alternative requirements if applicable.
Benefits or Entitlements Accepted for Sponsorship:
The 'specified' benefits or entitlements which can be used by a Sponsor to meet the 'adequate maintenance and accommodation' requirements are as follows (again from Appendix FM):-
(a) the applicant's partner must be receiving one or more of the following:
(i) Disability Living Allowance; or
(ii) Severe Disablement Allowance; or
(iii) Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit; or
(iv) Attendance Allowance; or
(v) Carer's Allowance; or
(vi) Personal Independence Payment; or
(vii) Armed Forces Independence Payment or Guaranteed Income Payment under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme; or
(viii) Constant Attendance Allowance, Mobility Supplement or War Disablement Pension under the War Pensions Scheme; or
(ix) Police Injury Pension; or
(x) Child Disability Payment; or
(xi) Adult Disability Payment; and
(b) the applicant must provide evidence that their partner is able to maintain and accommodate themselves, the applicant and any dependants adequately in the UK without recourse to public funds. (emphasis added, see below)
E-LTRP.3.4. The applicant must provide evidence that there will be adequate accommodation, without recourse to public funds, for the family, including other family members who are not included in the application but who live in the same household, which the family own or occupy exclusively, unless paragraph EX.1. applies (see below, 'Exceptional Circumstances'): accommodation will not be regarded as adequate if-
(a) it is, or will be, overcrowded; or
(b) it contravenes public health regulations.
Calculation of Adequate Maintenance:
Understanding the method for calculating adequate maintenance.
Total net weekly income vs. weekly housing costs.
Consideration of weekly income support levels.
Accommodation Requirements:
• Providing evidence of suitable accommodation:
• Ownership or permission to occupy.
• Compliance with housing and public health regulations.
Excluded Sources of Income:
• Highlighting income sources not permitted to meet financial
requirements:
• Third-party subsidies, income-related benefits, etc.
• Rationale behind exclusion to prevent reliance on public funds.
Exceptional Circumstances Provision:
• Explaining the provision for applicants facing exceptional
circumstances:
• Grant of leave on a 10-year route if certain eligibility
requirements are not met.
• Complex nature of applications requiring expert assistance and
evidence
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