Is It Welfare In England Or Not?

[uncletom]

I have a question that I would love to have the answer to.

My wifes older sister married a Portugese person who lives and works in England. Just recently

( two-three months ago) they got the approval from England's immigration to be able to move

to England as a family and have done so. My wifes older sister and her 11 year old Thai daughter

now live in England with their Portugese husband /stepfather.

Now it is already known that this character is a bit of a cheap charlie for most general things but

seems to have an fair to moderate income making his life comfortable.

Ok, here is where it lies. Yesterday my wife spoke with her sister and her sister said "OH England is so great, the daughter will be going to school for the first time in about two weeks and the Government is giving her 600 pounds a month.

I said to my wife SAY WHAT ? I wasn't aware that a new immigrant to England married to a Portugese person living in England was able to receive any allowance of anything. I am under the belief of that he would have had to sign for responsibility to care for the two new immigrants as a pre clause to enter England.

My question is, is this 600 pounds possible to get from the Gov?

Is this welfare or is everybody able to get this sort of money given so freely to them.

In America this is impossible and I would think for England as well.

Here is another thing. If he is living in England what does he need to have ? Citizenship? Green card? If he is not a citizen, then is it easier for him to get free money from the gov, such as in hand me outs or welfare for a child or just in general.

Does England support education in this manner?

Remember. I have only met this guy once but the entire Thai family and me, know that this guy

is cheap and some what uncaring for he has shown this already.

I believe that if he could get it some how, any way, even welfare , he would do it if possible..

I am I correct in my thinking ? I am so curious to have the real answer. Thanks

[taxexile]

i believe that as a portugese , and therefore a european union national , he (and his family) would be allowed access to the unbounded generosity that is the uk welfare system.

if a 600 a month schooling allowance is part of the benefits available , then his children would in all probability be entitled to it.

[dboy]

once in the uk and your not british its fairly easy to get money, we have a lot of do good lawyers her

[Arsenal]

once in the uk and your not british its fairly easy to get money, we have a lot of do good lawyers her

But not apparently many people who can construct a simple sentence properly.

[taxexile]

But not apparently many people who can construct a simple sentence properly

shouldn't that be

.....but not , apparently , many people who can construct a simple sentence properly.

no sentence should start with the word "but" , unless written by a butt!

[uncletom]

What I really want to know is..

1. Is this normal practice?

2. Can an ENGLISH person bring home his new wife and child and immediately get these benefits?

3. What are these benfefits called, as in is it actually welfare so to speak or is it a special

govenment allocation of funds.

4. Is this guy taking advantage of the gov and the taxpayers? He certainly has enough money

to support everything on his own already.

5. How is he able to get the money so easy, and is it a proud thing to do, as is it looked well upon

by the local people.

I have my reasons for wanting to know. This guy is yanking everyones chain in the family as

well has turned the sister into a cheap charlie snob so to speak just like him.....

If it is respectful and on the up and up then ok, but if it is not I want to be able to call the

kettle black as it is...

In my opinion it seems like not the right thing to do..

I welcome all your next opinions and knowledge of what it is in England...

[banchang]

No cash is handed out but you can get vouchers for pre school nursery ,this is nowhere near £600

[Rinrada]

Sounds a bit Porki & cheese

[the scouser]

Portugal is a member country of the European Union, so the husband is free to live and work in the UK without any visa/green card requirement, and this right extends to any dependants. However, the right to claim social security benefits is limited.

In terms of the daughter, the government is obliged to educate her free of charge up until the age of 16, possibly 18 if she sits her "A"-level exams, and, whilst in full time education, either one of her parents will receive Child Benefit of £17.50 per week in respect of her.

If the Portuguese chap is in low-paid employment, he can additonally claim Working and Child Tax Credits which might account for the £600.00 per month.

Alternatively, he might just be on the fiddle.

Scouse.

[Charma]

This must have something to do with the way the wife and daughter came via Portugal. Even a UK national, in being granted a marriage visa would surely have to show that he can support the family without recourse to public funds? Maybe they got the Portuguese visa first and then when moving across to UK, the usual rules did not apply. Seems a bit odd to me.

[mowlem]

600 pounds might be spread over the whole YEAR, which works out at 12 pounds a week.

As has been said, all you need is a valid passport from ANY European Community Country to settle I the UK

[NordicMan]

What I really want to know is..

5. ........ is it a proud thing to do, as is it looked well upon by the local people.....

I have my reasons for wanting to know. This guy is yanking everyones chain in the family as

well has turned the sister into a cheap charlie snob so to speak just like him.....

If it is respectful and on the up and up then ok, but if it is not I want to be able to call the

kettle black as it is...

In my opinion it seems like not the right thing to do..

I welcome all your next opinions and knowledge of what it is in England...

In my opinion, it varies very much from family to family, and also from location to location. Most people in my family, including myself, very much looks down on this and it is considered something that only very "low" people will do. Then I know friends of friends who think leeching as money off the government as possible is the most natural thing to do.

I would be a bit careful about this in public - if you publicly express that you approve of this, you may lose a lot of respect from others.

When I hear Thai housewives sit and talk about how much money they can get off the government, I get p*ssed off and asks them...

If I walk into your village in Thailand, tell everyone that I do not want to work, i just want to sit home, and I want everyone else in the village to give me a few baht each, per day, so I can buy drinks and food. That's what you do in England - you don't want to work, instead you ask people like myself to pay tax so the government can take a bit money from each of us and give it to you. Is that common in your home village??? If not, then <deleted> off.

And I think your wife's friend's Portuguese guy does the same - nothing but a leech on society. He is happy to ask for free handouts from the government because that is inpersonal, but he doesn't have the guts to look me in the eye and ask me, and everyone else in his street and neighbourhood, to give him 10p every day.

cheers

nm

[phibunmike]

But not apparently many people who can construct a simple sentence properly

shouldn't that be

.....but not , apparently , many people who can construct a simple sentence properly.

no sentence should start with the word "but" , unless written by a butt!

... or perhaps the last clause should be

"properly construct a simple sentence." ?

(this said in a supreme effort to keep this thread on-topic )

[samran]

To the original poster.

Why don't you check out the website of the Dept or Work and Pensions to get an idea of what is out there benefits wise. www.dwp.gov.uk

As for the 600 pound comment. I'd put it down to one Thai trying to show off to another Thai. While the UK and the EU in general are much more generous in terms of social welfare payments, 600 quid a month sounds a bit steep for one child.

[GuestHouse]

I'd quit worrying about it if I was the OP.

Yes the UK provides free education to all children in the UK up to the age of 18 years old - Something to be proud of.

Yes the UK sets minimum standards of income and housing for families and provides welfare to support families to that level - Again something to be proud of.

Yes there is freedom of movement within the EU - Something I'm very happy about having moved from the UK to Italy (We don't hear a lot about the benefits this offers Britons but a growing number of Britons benefit from free movement within the EU).

If you want to get your rag on about something, look at the US and what happens to children who's parents can't or won't earn enough to keep them. The gap between your wealthy and your poor is disgusting and a ticking time bomb.