claiming benefits in Britain for their kids abroad

[SueEllen]

It matters a great deal. If the children are in the UK, then the UK pays for their schooling and healthcare in addition to child allowance. They should change the law so that if you are an immigrant working in the UK, you should only get child allowance if you don't bring your kids with you.

Not allowed to do that as it discriminates against EU citizens.

They can however change the law so that you can only have benefits if your kids are physically present in the UK AND you have been working in the UK for 2 years or have you been a UK resident for over 10 years a gap of less than 12 months in any 5 year period.....

Other EU countries do similar things - so it's only fair.

[diseasex]

True - but typically it seems closing loopholes is only done when it becomes worthwhile. Same with tax loopholes I suppose - if fixing it costs more than the damage being done then pragmatically why bother.

its easy to scare with immigrants stealing jobs etc and winning elections thanks to that. Thats all it is. It has 0 reason to be a headline, there are other bigger problems like starbucks or facebook not paying millions CT

[d000hg]

True - but typically it seems closing loopholes is only done when it becomes worthwhile. Same with tax loopholes I suppose - if fixing it costs more than the damage being done then pragmatically why bother.

[northernladuk]

687 children. £500k a year. In other words, it's not actually a problem other than to idealists.

Indeed but it would be interesting to see what the year on year growth is. Not a problem this year but going forward it could be. Anything linked to migration could have the potential to snowball extremely quickly once everyone gets wind.

[d000hg]

687 children. £500k a year. In other words, it's not actually a problem other than to idealists.

[diseasex]

It matters a great deal. If the children are in the UK, then the UK pays for their schooling and healthcare in addition to child allowance. They should change the law so that if you are an immigrant working in the UK, you should only get child allowance if you don't bring your kids with you.

Not that easy as this benefits money , if spent in the UK, would go back to economy again in forms of various taxes, vat etc. What is the actual hard math behind it, politicians won't tell you.

[NotAllThere]

...
What does it matter where the child lives as long the parents are working and paying taxes in the UK and have to pay for the support?

It matters a great deal. If the children are in the UK, then the UK pays for their schooling and healthcare in addition to child allowance. They should change the law so that if you are an immigrant working in the UK, you should only get child allowance if you don't bring your kids with you.

[EternalOptimist]

i myself never have claimed anything , both in Poland and here.

ooohh, you fibber

[sal]

Romanians and Bulgarians claiming benefits in Britain for their kids abroad TREBLES

....
Claims from the Eastern Europeans working in the UK but sending benefits home have risen from 154 to 446 in five years.

A total of 687 children living in the former Soviet bloc countries are now being funded by the UK taxpayer more than £12,584 each week or £655,000 a year

They broke the bank....

Of course there is a small minority that is simply abusing the system as any other form of benefits in the UK. But most of these cases are hard working people paying their fair share of taxes and abiding the law. Why are they being demonized?

What does it matter where the child lives as long the parents are working and paying taxes in the UK and have to pay for the support?

[vetran]

well yes...........

maybe if foreigners do not like they can stay away then?

but yes the system is actually not too bad - the odd headline grabbing issue gets exposed every now and then but .....

The handling of claimants is atrocious and the abuse of sanctions are a scandal.

However being the world's benefit service is hardly a good idea.

[diseasex]

well yes...........

maybe if foreigners do not like they can stay away then?

but yes the system is actually not too bad - the odd headline grabbing issue gets exposed every now and then but .....

Yep, i guess nobody complains except for politicians looking for an easy enemy forgetting the fact that their country absorbed 2m raised and educated people without any cost. i myself never have claimed anything , both in Poland and here.

[original PM]

My aunt claimed benefits (don't know which ones, probably tax credits of 100+ a month ) and came back to Poland . She was receiving them for another 12 months - free cash . I'd say fix your system first, and then hit people that are working hard.

Also Cameron or UKIP want different rules for English and immigrants - in other words , ours can cheat, foreigners can't

well yes...........

maybe if foreigners do not like they can stay away then?

but yes the system is actually not too bad - the odd headline grabbing issue gets exposed every now and then but .....

[diseasex]

Workers whose kids are educated abroad are still in receipt of child benefit. What exactly is the problem with that?

My aunt claimed benefits (don't know which ones, probably tax credits of 100+ a month ) and came back to Poland . She was receiving them for another 12 months - free cash . I'd say fix your system first, and then hit people that are working hard.

Also Cameron or UKIP want different rules for English and immigrants - in other words , ours can cheat, foreigners can't

[NotAllThere]

Workers whose kids are educated abroad are still in receipt of child benefit. What exactly is the problem with that?

[raphal]

Why don't the they plug these loop holes than coming up with new tax legislations to snatch more from tax payer.

Jonathan Isaby and Nick Clegg brand EU-bound benefits 'ABSURD' | UK | News | Daily Express