Useful Information & Links

Frequently Asked Questions: Life in the UK and New Arrivals

Short, sourced answers to the questions our community asks most. Newest first.

1. Health (NHS)18 October 2026

   Eight mistakes immigrants often make with the NHS: GP registration, A&E, the health surcharge, prescription charges, visiting parents' costs and vaccination letters

   Points that cause problems according to official pages: waiting to register with a GP, using A&E for non-emergencies, not knowing the health surcharge (IHS) excludes prescriptions, dental and eye care, not working out a PPC, visiting parents' costs and ignoring vaccination letters.

   Last checked: October 2026Full answer
2. Daily Life & Transport18 October 2026

   Six mistakes immigrants often make with driving and traffic in the UK: the 12-month limit on a Turkish licence, uninsured driving, phone fines, MOT and the ULEZ

   GOV.UK: Turkey is not on the list of countries whose licences can be exchanged; after 12 months as a resident you need a provisional licence and theory and practical tests. Uninsured driving: £300 and 6 points; handheld phone: £200 and 6 points; no MOT: fine up to £1,000; ULEZ: £12.50 a day.

   Last checked: October 2026Full answer
3. Housing & Renting18 October 2026

   Nine mistakes people often make buying a home in England: how a home in Turkey affects stamp duty, skipping a survey, hidden costs and fraud

   Points that cause problems according to official guidance: leaving costs out of the budget, extra property anywhere in the world raising stamp duty (+5%), not counting as a first-time buyer, the non-resident +2%, treating an offer as binding, confusing a valuation with a survey and property fraud.

   Last checked: October 2026Full answer
4. Daily Life & Transport18 October 2026

   Seven mistakes people often make with legal matters in the UK: a religious-only marriage, a court letter, tribunal deadlines, unregistered advisers, the TV Licence and wills

   Points that cause problems according to official sources: a religious-only ceremony not being a legal marriage, an unanswered court or debt letter (CCJ risk), the tribunal time limit (6 months after 1 October 2026), unregistered advisers, the TV Licence (£180) and not making a will.

   Last checked: October 2026Full answer
5. Money & Banking18 October 2026

   Eight mistakes immigrants often make with money in the UK: Self Assessment penalties, income in Turkey, tax codes, workplace pensions, HMRC scams and bank protection

   Points that cause problems according to official pages: filing Self Assessment after 31 January (£100 late), not declaring rental or pension income from Turkey, never checking your tax code, opting out of a workplace pension unaware, HMRC scams and the £120,000 bank protection limit.

   Last checked: October 2026Full answer
6. Pensions & Social Security18 October 2026

   Can ILR holders get Universal Credit? Conditions, monthly amounts, the 55p taper, the £16,000 savings limit and sponsor undertakings

   GOV.UK says an ILR holder can apply for benefits if eligible. Universal Credit needs age 18+, under State Pension age, living in the UK and savings of £16,000 or less; single 25+ gets £424.90 a month. Sponsor undertakings and habitual residence are checked separately.

   Last checked: October 2026Full answer
7. Work & Tax18 October 2026

   Losing your job (redundancy): redundancy pay (weekly cap £751), New Style JSA (£95.55, 182 days) and Universal Credit

   GOV.UK: employees with 2 years' service can get statutory redundancy pay (0.5, 1 or 1.5 weeks' pay per year by age band; weekly pay capped at £751). New Style JSA is up to £95.55 a week for 182 days; UC can be claimed at the same time or instead.

   Last checked: October 2026Full answer
8. Immigration & Visas18 October 2026

   Bringing your partner after ILR or citizenship: sponsor conditions, the £29,000 income requirement, visa fees, the health surcharge and the 5 years to ILR

   GOV.UK: for a partner visa the sponsor can be a British or Irish citizen or settled (ILR). Combined income must be at least £29,000 a year. Fees are £2,064 from abroad and £1,407 from within the UK; the health surcharge is £5,175 per adult for 5 years. ILR needs 5 continuous years on a partner visa.

   Last checked: October 2026Full answer
9. Settlement & Citizenship18 October 2026

   What changes when you become a British citizen? Passport (£102), voting, registering children (£1,000), bringing family, dual citizenship and differences from ILR

   GOV.UK: naturalisation costs £1,709 plus a £130 ceremony fee; registering a child is £1,000. An adult passport is £102 online. Citizens can vote in general elections; dual citizenship is allowed. For partner sponsorship ILR and citizenship both suffice.

   Last checked: October 2026Full answer
10. Family, Children & Schools18 October 2026

    Child Benefit: £27.05 and £17.90 a week, who gets it, the £60,000-£80,000 tax charge (HICBC) and the end of the UC two-child limit

    GOV.UK: Child Benefit pays £27.05 a week for the eldest or only child and £17.90 for each additional child, with no cap on the number. The charge starts above £60,000 (1% per £200) and takes it all back at £80,000. UC adds £303.94 per child; the two-child limit ended on 6 April 2026.

    Last checked: October 2026Full answer