Can I claim benefits after receiving ILR?

Yes. Once you have ILR, the no recourse to public funds condition is removed. You can access the same benefits as British citizens, including Universal Credit, housing benefit, child benefit, and others, subject to meeting the standard eligibility criteria.

Can I access council housing with ILR?

Yes. ILR holders are eligible for council housing and housing association properties. You can join the waiting list through your local council. Priority is based on housing need, not immigration status.

Do I still pay the Immigration Health Surcharge after ILR?

No. ILR gives you permanent access to the NHS. You never pay the IHS again. If you paid IHS for a period extending beyond your ILR grant date, you can claim a refund for the unused months.

Benefits After ILR: What You Can Access

After receiving ILR, the no recourse to public funds condition is removed and you gain access to the same benefits as British citizens. This includes Universal Credit, housing benefit, child benefit, council housing, and full NHS access without the Immigration Health Surcharge. Your employment rights also expand.

Benefits You Can Now Claim

With ILR, you are eligible for the same benefits as British citizens, subject to standard eligibility criteria (income, disability, etc.):

Universal Credit: The main means-tested benefit for people on low income.
Housing benefit: Help with rent costs (being replaced by Universal Credit).
Child benefit: For each child under 16 (or under 20 in education). See our child benefit guide.
Disability benefits: Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance.
State pension: When you reach state pension age, based on your National Insurance record.
Free school meals: Based on income. See our free school meals guide.

You may need to pass a habitual residence test when first claiming benefits. This checks that you are genuinely settled in the UK and intend to stay. With ILR and a history of UK residence, this is usually straightforward.

Healthcare

ILR gives you permanent access to the NHS. You no longer pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. If you have unused IHS months, claim a refund through our IHS refund guide.

Housing

ILR holders can access:

Council housing: Apply through your local authority. See our council housing guide.
Housing association properties: Apply directly or through your council.
Rent privately: No right to rent restrictions. See our renting guide.
Buy property: No immigration restrictions on property ownership. See our property guide.

Employment

With ILR, you have no restrictions on employment:

Work for any employer without sponsorship.
Be self-employed or start a business.
Work in government roles that require settlement.
No minimum salary requirements.

See our employment rights guide.

Education and Student Finance

ILR holders are eligible for home fee status at UK universities and can access student finance (loans and grants) in England, provided you have been ordinarily resident in the UK for 3 years before the start of your course.

What ILR Does Not Give You

Voting rights: Only British citizens and Commonwealth/Irish citizens can vote in all elections.
British passport: You need citizenship for this. See our citizenship after ILR guide.
Protection from loss of status: ILR can lapse if you spend more than 2 continuous years outside the UK. Citizenship cannot.

For a full comparison, see our citizenship vs ILR guide.

For official guidance, visit GOV.UK: indefinite leave to remain.