child benefit in Spain

[chicca]

Have been in Spain over 4 years and there are some things I still don't understand. I have a DS of 2.5. Have never claimed a penny. Husband is autonomous (he pays social security every month).
I went to the Social Worker at the health centre to ask whether I was entitled to health care through my husband. He asked if we were married and said that I would take a marriage certificate along to local DHSS type office. When I did so they said they needed a officially translated version (we got married in the UK). This seems mad and is potentially v expensive to get and difficult at that.
Anyway it seems that I have to go through the same process to get any child benefit.
Is this true?
I have heard that the payments are quite generous here?!
So, calling all residents here to help!!

If you do a translation yourself and get it stampled by a notary, they might accept that! Worth a try since getting the notary to sign something should only cost a few euros.
Because your dh is registered for socio, yes you should be entitled to socio through his work as you are his dependents. Once you have your own ss card and number this would entitle you to medical treatment plus any benefits that are available to you including child ben, so yes you only have to do it once and it covers all these types of things. However I have been told that they only pay child ben up to 2 yrs old, but not sure if that's just our region (Murcia).

It is worth going to your hacienda and asking there, as all health centres, benefit offices etc seem to have different rules, as the legislation is constantly changing so not everyone has the latest version...aarghh! I assume you already have NIE and residencias if your dh is autonomo, but make sure also that ds has them (here it is now just one form and you can do both together at the police station, or same place you did your own).

It's a minefield isn't it, we still aren't sorted either and it's not through lack of trying! The bloomin rules change every other week, and by the time they give you the right forms they are out of date. AGH! That's why I'd suggest the hacienda, or if your budget can run to it have a word with a gestor who would be able to advise and then maybe just do the lot for you (for a fee of course!)

good luck, and if you find out, please will you tell me??!

"stamped" even

Hi Kitbit

Thanks for that. I could try the notary option - he would charge too though! I think you might be right about the 2 year old thing - typical! The small net research I have done seems to say that!
Yes we have NIE and residencia.
How is life in Murcia?

you're welcome! actually when we got the notary to sign a document for us he only charged about 3 euros, similar price as getting a notarised copy of your passport. Might be worth a question, at least you can do the trans yourself (most of the words are single words rather than sentences, such as "occupation" and can been looked up if need be) and then it won´t cost anything to enquire at the notary's office, and it might be that cheap!
It´s worth going through the process though because even if you´re not entitled to any child ben, you will at least have your own ss card which you'll definitely need unless you have private cover.
Murcia is OK, too flippin hot in the summer though, life just completely stops for 2 months which is no good with a full time job and a toddler! I think we are going to try and move further up the coast to at least try for a bit of respite. Whereabouts are you?

I'm over t'other side of the country in Cadiz province in Andalucia. Same moans though - heat especially! This time of year is great but always colder inside than out rather annoyingly. Good news on the notary cost. I do actaully know someone who teaches our local chap English so I can ask her to assist too. Fortunately my Spanish isn't too bad otherwise I suspect it would be gestors all the way...

We live in Galicia and get 100 euros a month child benefit for our youngest. This will stop when he turns 3 in April. I am 'autonomo' too which means that DH and DS' are entitled to healthcare. It's a bit of a paperwork nightmare though (how unusual for Spain). Unfortunately, if you do get your papers sorted out chicca, they probably won't pay you child benefit for long as your DS is already 2.5, unless of course, the age limit is different in your area. Good luck!

Hi chicca, we live in Cordoba, Andalucia. The 100 euros a month is paid to working mums until their child turns 3 here (it's called maternidad). I don't work but we do get 436 euros every six months child allowance. We are a familia numerosa though (3 children). Also you have to be earning less than a certain amount. As DH's salary wasn't being paid fully through the nomina, we qualified for this quite easily. Of course not getting everything on nomina has it's own problems too...aaahhh, it's never easy, the paperwork out here. I went to the social security office and asked what I was entitled to with respect to the children. Have never had to translate marriage cert either.

Turns out that I was sent to the wrong office where they have 'mal trabajadores' so I went to another office and they gave me what I needed - a stamp! So, just a few more forms now and I'll be on my way! DH is autonomo but also self-employed so I wonder if that will make any difference. Probably right on DS1 being too old. However I am not pg with number 2 so maybe we can get something for him/her! It's a lot to pay out for not much in return!
Clarice, your kids don't go to the British School in COrdoba do they?!