Child Benefit - Social Security Agreement

[pipwake]

Hi there,

I am on a UK Ancestry Visa and myself and my son are citizens of NZ.

I am applying for my ILR next week and have mistakenly been claiming the child benefit for my son. I noticed on my visa that is states 'no recourse to public funds'. Everyone I approached said I could apply for it (midwifes, doctors, friends etc).

I have since supplied them with certified copies of my passport to illustrate the above but I have been dealign with a visa company and he has advised that there is a social security agreement between NZ and UK stating that even those my visa states no recourse to public funds.....I am actually entitled it.

I am not sure if this is going to be a problem at my appt next week, as I do not have any confirmation from HMRC yet, all I have is a print out of the agreement and child benefit exceptions.

Can anyone help me with this issue/or confirm whether or not I should have claimed it???

Thanks

[John]

I am on a UK Ancestry Visa and myself and my son are citizens of NZ.

I am applying for my ILR next week and have mistakenly been claiming the child benefit for my son.

You have not made a mistake at all. You have been claiming what you are entitled to, thanks to the Double Social Security Agreement between the UK and NZ.

I am not sure if this is going to be a problem at my appt next week

It is not going to be a problem. Technically, as regards Child Benefit, you have not been claiming Public Funds at all.

You do not mention Tax Credits. Please confirm that you are not also claiming Tax Credits. That would be a problem.

[pipwake]

Hi, no tax credits, i only claimed child benefit.
Thanks for your reply, it is very reassuring