To ask if you can claim benefits in the uk by doing this?

[reqder]

Can you request to go part time and then claim as you’re now on a reduced income? Surely that makes no sense as people could choose to do that as and when they felt like it? I am from the uk but lived in Finland since I was 11… we are moving back again next year and I am currently a stay at home parent!

How much does your partner earn? If you are a low income family then you can claim certain benefits.

@IncognitoUsername equivalent of 33,000 pounds

Depends on household income and age of children,

Bit rich to not pay tax here and then ask for benefits before you even arrive.

On 33k plus a pt wage, probably not, also you may need to be resident for a period before becoming eligible.

Personally, I’d stay in Finland. The U.K. is falling apart.

@reqder on that wage I doubt it.
My husband earns similar. I am a SAHM.
We don't get benefits because he "earns to much".
I could get a part time job but I wouldn't be able to claim benefits to "top mine up" to the full time equivalent.

Possibly, but we all know our benefit system is open to abuse and seems to reward those who want to work little or not at all.

Any savings?

Ok thank you

Yes, no problem in arranging your financing/income to be low enough to get benefits - lots of people do exactly that.

It would depend on age of children, income ,

It depends on your partner's wage. I work very part time and claim UC whilst my husband works. It has saved a lot in childcare.

It might depend on how long you have been out of the UK though if you are eligible?

Legally speaking you can't, ie if the DWP think you have deliberately reduced your income in order to claim benefits they can deem you ineligible and not pay you. However it's very difficult to prove so it's rarely enforced (eg working fewer hours due to childcare issues would be a valid reason)

In reality the current benefit system is unreliable - a delay before you can claim (not backdated), often paid incorrectly leaving people having to pay back benefits, affected if you get paid twice in one pay period (regardless of your overall income) etc - it's not an easy way to manage when you're working.

Everything wrong with this country in a nut shell. Get a job and contribute to society a bit rather than draining our benefits system as soon as you get off the plane.

depends how old the DC are. After a certain age (3? but not sure). You will need to find full time employment at some point if you are depending on UC or there will be sanctions. Also, the UK benefits are much less generous than Finland. You are going to get the shock of your life when you will have to pay for childcare and see the general state of the educational system. I would stay put and not move - not if you have DC. 33k isn't going to stretch very far.

is your DH British? if he is Finnish, you won't be able to bring him over in NY case as you need to earn a certain salary.

Depends how old your kids are. If your kids are over 3 you will be expected to either work 30 hours pw or to look for work that is those hours
You will get child benefit.

I'd second this.
Also, I'd make sure you all have Finish passports so you can leave if you need to. You don't want to get trapped here.

There is a problem - taxpayers are paying for it. No wonder this country is in a mess. The sooner we have benefit reform the better.

Benefits are calculated on household income not individual income. If you work part time then your DH and your income will probably above the threshold. Best not to rely on benefits with an election looming.

Thank you I wasn’t intending to do it I had just heard it was an option and was very surprised. We do not have that here

Source?

How does the benefits system work in Finland?
What if a single mother could only find part time work or she could only work part time due to lack of childcare?

If you haven't lived or worked in the UK for the last 28 weeks you may not be entitled to anything

Once you’re able to satisfy the tests and are entitled to benefit you don’t even have to reside in the U.K. Our benefit system is not fit for purpose.