Benefits

Mixed households

Benefit eligibility rules can be complex where members of the same household have different nationalities or immigration statuses. For example, this may arise where a British citizen lives with a partner who has leave to remain subject to a 'no recourse to public funds' (NRPF) condition.

Where a person can access public funds, they will generally be able to claim any benefits they are entitled to. However, when a benefit is classed as a public fund, additional amounts are not usually payable for a partner or other household members who have NRPF.

Council Tax Support, Housing Benefit and Universal Credit

Where a person who can access public funds is living with a partner who has leave to remain with NRPF and wishes to claim Council Tax Support/Reduction, Housing Benefit, or Universal Credit, they should speak to a benefit adviser.

For such claims, it will be necessary to establish:

• whether the partner’s details must be included in the claim
• whether the award will include an additional amount because of the partner’s presence in the household

Where an award includes an additional amount because of a partner who has NRPF, immigration advice should be sought to establish whether this could have implications for the partner’s current or future immigration position.

Page updated: 15 May 2026