Guide to Financial Requirement Exemptions for UK Spouse Visas

Financial Requirement Exemptions for UK Spouse Visas: When the Minimum Income Threshold Doesn’t Apply

Most applicants for the UK Spouse Visa must meet the minimum income threshold, currently set at £29,000 per year (as of April 2025). However, there are financial requirement exemptions for UK Spouse Visas in some cases. If you or your partner receives certain state benefits or allowances, you may be exempt from meeting the standard financial requirement.

In this article, we explain everything you need to know about financial requirement exemptions for UK Spouse Visas—including which state benefits qualify, what documents are needed, and how to apply successfully.

What Is the Minimum Income Requirement for a UK Spouse Visa?

As per Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules, applicants must demonstrate that the UK sponsor earns a minimum income of £29,000 to support their spouse or partner.

This financial requirement ensures that applicants will not rely on public funds and can support themselves adequately in the UK.

🔗 Check the latest UK Spouse Visa financial requirements

However, where the sponsor receives certain types of state support, the applicant may be exempt from meeting the standard financial requirement.

What Are Financial Requirement Exemptions for UK Spouse Visa?

If the sponsor receives a qualifying disability-related benefit, then they would be exempt from meeting the £29,000 minimum income threshold. Instead, they must demonstrate that they can adequately maintain and accommodate the applicant without needing public funds. This is known as the adequate maintenance test.

This ultimately means that the sponsor does not have to meet a fixed income level—but their income and expenses must show that they can cover the applicant’s living costs.

Which Benefits Qualify for Financial Requirement Exemptions for UK Spouse Visa?

Not every kind of benefit support qualifies for exemption. According to Appendix FM and Appendix FM-SE, the following benefits qualify a sponsor for exemption:

• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Attendance Allowance
• Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)
• Carer’s Allowance
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Guaranteed Income Payment under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

🔗 See full list of qualifying benefits

What Does “Adequate Maintenance” Mean?

Even if you’re exempt from the income threshold, you still need to show that you can adequately maintain your family without recourse to public funds.

Adequate Maintenance means that, after income tax, National Insurance contributions and housing costs have been deducted, there must be available to the family the level of income that would be available to them if the family was in receipt of Income Support.

The Home Office assesses this against the income support level for a family of your size, including:

• Your weekly income
• Any housing costs
• Household size

For example, if the weekly Income Support allowance for a couple is £144.65, you must show that your disposable income exceeds this amount after housing costs.

🔗 See Income Support rates on GOV.UK

Example of Adequate Maintenance Calculation

Let’s say you and your partner live together, and the sponsor receives £300/week in PIP and pays £200/month in rent (paid from income). Your weekly disposable income after rent = £300 – £46.15 = £253.85

Since this is higher than the required £133.30, your income meets the adequate maintenance test.

Documents Required to Prove Exemption

To successfully apply for a UK Spouse Visa under the financial requirement exemption, you must provide:

• Award letters from DWP showing the qualifying benefit
• Recent bank statements showing benefit payments
• Details of accommodation (rental agreement or ownership documents)
• Evidence of other income, such as part-time work or savings
• An adequate maintenance calculation showing income vs expenses

You should also Include a cover letter that explains how you meet the exemption criteria.

Can You Use Savings if You Are Exempt?

Yes. If you’re exempt from the financial threshold due to receiving a qualifying benefit, but still want to show additional income, you can include:

• Cash savings over £16,000
• Rental income
• Other permitted income sources

This can help demonstrate that your household is financially stable and strengthen your application.

Can You Combine Income and Benefits?

Yes, if you are exempt, you can still include income from part-time employment, self-employment, or other sources to support your claim of adequate maintenance. However, you do not need to meet the strict £29,000 threshold.Even small mistakes can lead to visa refusal.

🔗 See our article on combining different income sources for your UK Spouse Visa

When Does the Exemption Not Apply?

Even if you receive some form of public funds other than those listed above, you must meet the standard financial requirement. Other forms of benefit are not listed as qualifying for the lower adequate maintenance requirement. For example,

• Universal Credit (UC) on its own is not a qualifying benefit.
• Child Benefit or Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) do not grant exemption.

However, if you receive Universal Credit along with PIP, you may still qualify for the exemption—but only due to the PIP.

Third-Party Support and Exemptions

You cannot ordinarily rely on third-party financial support (e.g., help from parents or friends) to meet the adequate maintenance test, unless the application is based on exceptional circumstances under Article 8 of the ECHR.

🔗 Read our guide on using third-party support for UK Spouse Visas

What if You Have Children?

If your application includes dependent children, you still don’t need to meet a higher financial threshold if you are exempt. However, the adequate maintenance calculation must reflect the larger household.

Make sure you include:

• Child-related benefits (e.g., Child Tax Credit)
• Housing costs
• Schooling or childcare costs (if applicable)

What If the Exemption Is Refused?

If the Home Office doesn’t accept your exemption because you haven’t shown that you receive a qualifying support from the state or says you haven’t shown adequate maintenance, your visa may be refused. In such cases, you can:

• Appeal the decision (especially if children or human rights are involved)
• Submit a new application with stronger evidence. Your new application should also address all the reasons for the initial refusal
• Consult an immigration adviser for a full review of your case

In conclusion

If you or your partner receives a qualifying disability benefit, you may be exempt from the UK Spouse Visa financial threshold and instead use lower adequate maintenance requirement. While the rules around exemptions are more flexible, it’s still crucial to show that you can adequately maintain and accommodate your family in the UK.

By understanding the exemptions and providing the right evidence, you can increase your chances of a successful visa application. If in doubt, reach out to our immigration experts at Gateway Immigration Services Limited for personalised advice.