Oh why not fix it Dave?

[BlasterBates]

What tax would that be ? Begging tax ? car wash tax ? Child prostitute tax ? One stringed guitar busker tax ?

Or maybe 'job at less than min wage and under the tax threshold' tax ?

See any flaws in your argument ?

Of course all Romanians are beggars, thieves or prostitutes.

[The Spartan]

When I was working away in Switzerland I received some form of child benefit, even though my daughter was in the UK seems only fair to me if you're paying tax in a country.

[doodab]

When I was working away in Switzerland I received some form of child benefit, even though my daughter was in the UK seems only fair to me if you're paying tax in a country.

Yes, I received an additional tax free allowance for kids when I was in Germany although the kids were in the UK.

[BlasterBates]

Most of those claiming child benefit are from Poland and latvia with excellent education systems.

http://http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1211923/UK-risking-long-term-economic-gloom-graduation-rate-falls-Poland-Slovakia.html

Which sort of torpedos the argument of them all being "beggars".

I've personally never met a Polish beggar, most seem to be plumbers, craftsmen, teachers or other professionals.

[vetran]

if the average wage is fairly similar and the benefits similar it is probably not very important, however with average wage in the UK being 5-7 times that of some accession countries then there will be some pull. The rules were probably put into place with UK, France, Germany in mind and no one thought about it when considerably poorer countries would join.

The point of it being a UK government decision (initially the new lie and now CMD's conalition) seems a bit pointless as none of us are MPs.

[VectraMan]

if the average wage is fairly similar and the benefits similar it is probably not very important, however with average wage in the UK being 5-7 times that of some accession countries then there will be some pull. The rules were probably put into place with UK, France, Germany in mind and no one thought about it when considerably poorer countries would join.

It seems to me this is fairly easily fixed by having a rate for child benefits based on where the children actually are. So UK based Poles with children in Poland get roughly the same benefits as Poles in Poland would, even if it is "paid for" by the UK. It probably wouldn't be much of a political issue if that were the case, although the Daily Mail would no doubt still try.

[vetran]

It seems to me this is fairly easily fixed by having a rate for child benefits based on where the children actually are. So UK based Poles with children in Poland get roughly the same benefits as Poles in Poland would, even if it is "paid for" by the UK. It probably wouldn't be much of a political issue if that were the case, although the Daily Mail would no doubt still try.

or just making benefits subject to 2-5 years contribution in every country for non citizens.

[VectraMan]

or just making benefits subject to 2-5 years contribution in every country for non citizens.

Which in the case of child benefit means an EU immigrant is paying more UK tax than a UK citizen. If you're going to tax people from day one, why shouldn't they get benefits from day one?

[vetran]

Which in the case of child benefit means an EU immigrant is paying more UK tax than a UK citizen. If you're going to tax people from day one, why shouldn't they get benefits from day one?

no they are receiving less benefits. Despite Gordon's best efforts tax & benefits are different.

[xoggoth]

Which is weird as Bosnia and Herzegovina are not full members of the EU and is currently only a candidate. This means it must be a UK government decision to allow this

That's right. The full list covers many Commonwealth countries and those that are neither EU or Commonwealth. Nothing wrong with negotiating reciprocal arrangements with any country, helps tourism etc. just as long as they really are reciprocal.

Trouble is that they are not, even within, the old EU:

Brussels has threatened Spain with legal action because of 'increasing complaints' that Spanish hospitals are refusing to provide emergency healthcare to tourists from European Union countries unless they pay

Spain faces EU legal action over 'illegal' hospital bills for tourists - Telegraph