NHS Maternity Exemption Certificate

[MWazir]

A couple I know are expecting their first baby. They are here on a HSMP visa. The local GP registered the lady for a Maternity Exemption Certificate (Matex) that basically entitles her to free NHS prescriptions.

Does anybody know if this is a benefit? Or is it something that everyone in the UK is entitled to. My concern is that it should not be a problem for them when the time comes to apply for ILR.

[John]

The "Public Funds" list for Immigration Rules purposes is quite a limited list, although it does include important things like Income Support and Child Benefit.

Exemption from prescription charges? No problem ... certainly not on that Public Funds list. Indeed no maternity-related benefits are included on that list.

[MWazir]

Many thanks John.

[Chris]

John, Sorry to bug you again. I've read previous links about Public funds. But not really understoon very well about what tax benefits can a WP holder claims Including child benefit or Tax credit.

Chris

[olisun]

as far as I know nothing, if it's written on your wp

[John]

Chris, the easy bit is to say that the holder of a visa will a "No recourse to Public Funds" restriction must not be the Child Benefit claimant.

Tax credits? Much more complicated but where both parents have such restricted visas then in the great majority of cases no Tax Credits claim should be made. However where one or both of the parents comes from a country such as Turkey with whom the UK has signed a reciprocal agreement then a claim might well be possible without breaching the visa restriction.

So as regards this couple, where are they from? Which country or countries?

[Chris]

I am from India.

[John]

From India .... if both you and your spouse are from there it follows that no claim for Tax Credits can be made until ILR visas are held.