What can I do with ILR that I could not do on a visa?

With ILR, you can work for any employer without restrictions, access public funds (benefits, housing), stay in the UK permanently without renewing your visa, and apply for British citizenship. You also no longer pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Can I claim benefits with ILR?

Yes. ILR removes the no recourse to public funds condition. You can claim Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Child Benefit, and other benefits on the same basis as British citizens, subject to meeting the normal eligibility criteria.

ILR itself does not give you voting rights in UK elections. However, Commonwealth citizens with ILR can vote in all UK elections. EU and Irish citizens can vote in local elections. To vote in all elections, you would need British citizenship.

Yes. ILR can be lost in three main ways: spending more than 2 continuous years outside the UK, having it revoked due to fraud or serious criminal behaviour, or acquiring it through deception. Unlike citizenship, ILR is not completely permanent.

ILR Rights and Benefits: What You Get With Settled Status

ILR gives you the right to live, work, and study in the UK without any visa restrictions. You can access public funds, get a mortgage more easily, and are no longer required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. However, ILR can lapse if you spend more than 2 years outside the UK, and it does not give you voting rights in general elections (unless you are a Commonwealth citizen).

Employment Rights

With ILR, your employment rights change fundamentally:

Work for any employer: You are no longer tied to a specific sponsor. You can change jobs freely, work for multiple employers, or start your own business.
Any type of work: There are no restrictions on the type of work you can do. Unlike some visa categories, there are no salary thresholds or occupation requirements.
Self-employment: You can be self-employed, freelance, or start a company without any immigration restrictions.
No sponsorship required: Employers do not need a sponsor licence to hire you. This significantly expands your job options.

Access to Public Funds

One of the most significant changes with ILR is access to public funds. On most temporary visas, you have a "no recourse to public funds" condition. ILR removes this permanently. You can now access:

Universal Credit
Housing Benefit and social housing
Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit
Disability benefits (PIP, ESA, Attendance Allowance)
State Pension (subject to NI contribution requirements)
Free school meals for your children
Student finance (after 3 years of residence)

For more on benefits eligibility, see the GOV.UK benefits page.

NHS Access

With ILR, you have the same NHS access as a British citizen. You no longer need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. All NHS treatment is available to you free of charge (subject to the same charges that apply to everyone, such as prescription charges in England).

If you paid IHS beyond your ILR grant date, you are entitled to a refund. See our IHS refund guide.

Housing and Mortgages

ILR significantly improves your housing options:

Mortgage access: Most lenders treat ILR holders the same as British citizens. See our mortgage and property guide.
Social housing: You can apply for council housing and housing association properties.
Right to rent: Landlords can easily verify your right to rent through the Home Office online checking service.

Education and Student Finance

With ILR, you qualify for home fees at UK universities (rather than international fees) and can access student finance, provided you meet the residence requirements (typically 3 years of ordinary residence in the UK before the course starts).

Your children also benefit from ILR, having the same access to state schools, free school meals, and educational support as British children.

Voting Rights

ILR does not automatically give you the right to vote in UK elections. Voting rights depend on your nationality:

Commonwealth citizens: Can vote in all UK elections (general, local, and devolved) if registered.
Irish citizens: Can vote in all UK elections.
EU citizens: Can vote in local elections in England and Northern Ireland, and in Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd elections if registered.
Other nationalities: Cannot vote in UK elections. Full voting rights require British citizenship.

Limitations of ILR

While ILR provides extensive rights, it has some limitations compared to British citizenship:

Can lapse: If you spend more than 2 continuous years outside the UK, your ILR lapses. See our returning residents guide.
Can be revoked: In cases of fraud, serious criminality, or national security concerns.
No British passport: You travel on your existing nationality's passport.
Limited voting: As described above, unless you are a Commonwealth or Irish citizen.

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

The Path Forward

After ILR, many people choose to continue towards British citizenship. Others are content to remain with ILR indefinitely. Both are valid choices. Understanding your rights with ILR helps you make an informed decision about whether citizenship is worth pursuing for your specific circumstances.

For the full picture, visit the GOV.UK indefinite leave to remain page.