to think that portable benefits should be scrapped?

[fedupalready]

Cant believe that the UK is still a soft touch and handing out millions of pounds of UK tax payers money in portable child benefits to children living in Eurpean countries such as Poland, it is quite unbelievable, when only the parents need to reside in the here.................this could only happen in the UK, madness. AIBU to think that this stupid wasteful policy should be scrapped or is there a good reason why this happens?

good luck

What an original idea for a thread!

YANBU. Britain is a soft touch. It's disgusting.

I have no idea why it happens either!

YANBU

Doesn't it work both ways though? If DH and I upped sticks and moved to Poland, wouldn't the same apply? I admit to ignorance on the subject..

Name me an original idea for a thread, Amberleaf.

Are you suggesting that every thread, and every sentence we must utter, must be completely independent of any other?

The OP is obviously right to be indignant. You'd have to be a complete twat not to be.

Sorry could I clarify what you mean? (I am sure your post is clear, but I am tired and can't seem to understand it)

Are you saying that parents come to live in the UK from Poland, but are entitled to claim cb for their children who remain in their home country? i.e. the children aren't resident in the UK?

Ohhhh.... what was it you say.....
ohhhhhh what was it again?

hmmmm oh yeah it's

I believe that's the case onepieceofcremeegg. I assume the rationale is that it's a benefit related to whether the parents pay national insurance contributions, and where the children actually are is irrelevant. But I could be wrong.

Don't children have to live with the claimant to receive CB? In that, if a child lives with grandparents, the parents couldn't claim CB but the grandparents could?

A little hysterical OP .... there is an EU reciprocal agreement regarding 'child benefit' .....so get your facts right in the first instance...this could only happen in the UK, I have friends who are spanish resident who legitimately claim CA and another set who are turkish residents also claim.

Mind you I also have friends who are now oz resident and have been fraudulently claiming for 10 years.

Ah so it works both ways within the EU?

Well 'oh my giddy aunt' like, what if we don't actually want to live in Poland? sigh It's just not fair.

If it works the same for everyone in the EU and the country the parents are paying NI into, and if CB is based on NI contribution, then I see no issue I'm afraid.

So what about this then?

Have to agree with aldiwhore - If you went to live in Spain and paid your taxes there, would you not feel entitled to the benefits afforded by this?

Hurrah! Not even factually correct...

Completely read the thread title wrong, thought it said 'portaloo benefits' , as you were

Er, what?

fedupalready, could you take a look at the link JacquelineHyde posted, and let us know if there's an eligibility criterion you didn't know about?
Because your OP doesn't make a lot of sense otherwise...

the poor kids don't get to see their mothers, why shouldn't they get the monetary benefit if they are working here & helping the economy?

"If however you are a national of an EEA country or Switzerland, you can usually get Child Benefit even if your child doesn't come to the UK. But your child will need to be living in an EEA country or Switzerland.

The countries in the EEA along with the UK are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden."

Does this mean all parents of DC living in these countries can claim CB even if their DC have never been to the UK? Does this stretch to WTC/CTC?

I meant all parents who work/live in the UK, but whose DC live in one of those countries?

My understanding is that you can claim anywhere within the EU. The problem is that some countries are more generous than others, hence the big influx into the UK and Ireland as the CB is more generous.

fedupalready: yanbu, I personally think that the UK as a country is going mad, we are in a terrible recession similar to years ago. UK as a country cannot afford to pay money that should not be paid out. Not even going down the immigrants etc route but we as a country have to tie our belts (like aus and canada) and have to say enough is enough. People are entitled to benefits if they have worked or thier family have worked for it in the UK but to pay people for benefits abroad WTF is that all about no wonder this country is going down the fecking pan

Im sure the child has to reside with you in order for you to claim Child Benefit.

iloverainbows Do you know if the parents who are eligible would also be eligible for WTC/CTC based on DC living in those countries,for the DC whom the parent in the UK is responsible for?