Benefits and services after settlement
Receiving ILR is a major milestone that unlocks access to the full range of UK public services and benefits. This guide explains everything that changes after you receive indefinite leave to remain.
- Section
- ILR & Settlement
- Reading time
- 9 min
- Last checked
- 2 September 2026
- Source
- The published Immigration Rules and GOV.UK guidance, linked throughout this guide.
- Rowan does not
- Look at your own case, tell you which route to choose, or say what the Home Office will decide. This guide shows the published rules and where to read them.
In short
- The no recourse to public funds (NRPF) condition is removed. You can access all means-tested benefits.
- Full NHS access without paying the Immigration Health Surcharge.
- Eligible for council housing and social housing.
- No restrictions on employment. You can work in any role including government positions.
After receiving indefinite leave to remain (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, the same benefits are open to you as to 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 approved education or training). 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: Linked to receiving certain benefits. In England, from the start of the 2026 to 2027 school year, children in a household that receives Universal Credit get free school meals regardless of household 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 (IHS), and there is no surcharge on an ILR application. The surcharge you already paid for your previous visa is not refunded for the unused months; our IHS refund guide lists the cases where GOV.UK does give a refund.
Register with a GP if you have not already. You are entitled to all NHS services on the same basis as British citizens.
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.
Questions and answers
Can I claim benefits after receiving ILR?
Yes. Once you have indefinite leave to remain (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, and there is no Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) on an ILR application. However, GOV.UK does not refund the unused part of a surcharge you already paid for your previous visa: the published refund rules cover a refused or withdrawn application, paying twice, or being granted less time than you asked for.
This guide is general information about published immigration rules. It is not advice about an individual application under s.82 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, and Rowan is not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority. Immigration rules change several times a year. For advice on a particular situation, contact an adviser authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority or an immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the authoritative current rules.