Expats claiming benefits

I have mixed feelings about Brits living abroad permanently.
1. You spend all your working life in UK, paying tax. You go abroad to live near family and your pension is fixed at the rate it was when you left, if you live in certain countries.
2. Ex-pats return to UK for medical and dental treatment despite paying nothing into current coffers.
I suppose the rules were fixed in a bygone era? And Brexit has changed our access relationship with European benefits?

Ex pats continue to pay tax on their occupational pensions in the UK don't they?

Keekaboo, I don't understand your obvious resentment. If somebody is entitled to attendance allowance, why does it matter where they live? The benefit system isn't fair - and never has been.

Still, it's a good system, nonetheless - and a lifeline for some. The idea is that we contribute what we can afford, while living and/or working in the UK. Those in need have support, a safety net.

Some of us contribute an awful lot, then never need that support, due to lots of good luck and hard work. I never have resented that.

A friend of mine has never worked and always lived on benefits. Why? She isn't selfish or lazy - but has learning disabilities and poor physical health - so really bad luck and (unemployable) no hard work. I'm glad to pay into the funds that support her - she's just a lovely person!

Re the winter fuel allowance, Spanish houses are not generally built to withstand cold weather and it can get quite cold there so heating is necessary in the winter months. I have been there in February and had frost on my car. Just saying!

I wouldn't blame the people claiming what they are entitled to claim...

For all I know what they could claim over here in the way of things like council tax and housing benefit would be more anyway..

If they can't manage on a pension alone I'm guessing not rich

Many countries have a reciprocal arrangement where pensions are increased in line with those that UK pensioners receive.
I know that there is no reciprocal arrangement in Australia so the pension is fixed at the point it is when you leave.

However, if reciprocal arrangements are in place, then perhaps other benefits will apply too?

That being said, it is impossible to get even a Blue Badge when you actually live in the UK. Applying for Attendance Allowance etc is an insurmountable mountain.

I suppose you could look at it another way and at least these people are not taking up housing and services in overcrowded UK. Australians get zilch, just a fixed pension which is something many don’t realise if they emigrate late in life. We were lucky, we were young when we came so it doesn’t really bother us.

VioletSky

I wouldn't blame the people claiming what they are entitled to claim...

For all I know what they could claim over here in the way of things like council tax and housing benefit would be more anyway..

If they can't manage on a pension alone I'm guessing not rich

I agree with this. If they were somehow getting money they *weren't entitled to it would be different.
If they were living in the UK they would be using the NHS and other benefits as we all do and it would cost this country more anyway.

If they are entitled to claim UK benefits after working and paying tax, then I see no problem.
I would be concerned about fraudulent claims, if checks aren't done to ensure they are entitled.

I don't know why you are so angry about this Keekaboo as others have said if your friend has paid UK taxes etc then she is entitled to benefits regardless of where she lives.
Yes momb we do continue to pay UK tax as well as tax in our country of residence.

Attendance Allowance is a personal allowance for being disabled and having extra expenses in life arising directly from your disability. The standard of disability required to get it is high, but it includes invisible disabilities, so you can never judge whether someone is qualified for it by just seeing them.

I confess that I am surprised that you can get AA when you live abroad. I thought that the big difference between the pension, which is personally contributory and portable and benefits, like AA, which are paid from general taxation, was that benefits were only paid to people resident in the UK.

Whilst I agree that if they have paid into the system, then it is right that they receive benefit from it, I do feel sad that the money is being spent abroad and not being ploughed back into in the UK economy.

M0nica

Attendance Allowance is a personal allowance for being disabled and having extra expenses in life arising directly from your disability. The standard of disability required to get it is high, but it includes invisible disabilities, so you can never judge whether someone is qualified for it by just seeing them.

I confess that I am surprised that you can get AA when you live abroad. I thought that the big difference between the pension, which is personally contributory and portable and benefits, like AA, which are paid from general taxation, was that benefits were only paid to people resident in the UK.

Maybe a bit of ‘ economy with the truth’ when claiming?

As someone who has filled in forms for AL, DLA and PIP I can confirm that there is a skill to doing so and the benefits are not easy to get.

However, if reciprocal arrangements are in place, then perhaps other benefits will apply too?

From what Daddima has posted, it seems that British people living overseas are not eligible to certain benefits, one of which is Attendance Allowance.
The exception is for those who go abroad for 13 weeks or less.

Keekaboo is right to wonder if this is right.

So actually, it’s a fraudulent claim and Keekaboo has every right to be annoyed.
When my father was in his late eighties and no longer able to drive or walk very far due to his heart failure (he ultimately died of heart failure aged 89) he had to have a physical assessment to ensure that this elderly man, who worked hard all his life, including fighting for his country in WW2 (and sustaining a very serious injury as he shot by a sniper) was made to walk up two flights of stairs and also along a corridor to check that he really was now disabled from his heart failure. He was awarded the allowance. How is it right that people fraudulently claim this allowance in this way? What assessment is being made to ensure the allowance is justified if the claimant is living abroad?

Knowing that someone who was awarded a War Pension for disability due to service in the Forces cannot even get a Blue Badge, I find this astonishing.

If those benefits are clearly and legally exportable, and declared as residents abroad- then I see no problem

Sadly there are 10s of 1000s Brits all over the EU still not registered properly as residents abroad, still on their UK GPs list and going back for treatment, and claiming benefits illegally. Some are abusing both systems, in UK and there - and that is so so wrong. As well as driving on UK plates illegally and not legally insured either. Since 2021, they are slowly and surely getting caught out- good!

mumofmadboys

Ex pats continue to pay tax on their occupational pensions in the UK don't they?

Direct taxes on income and pensions are only a small percentage of the taxes residents in the UK play.

It would appear that this person is claiming fraudulently or has found some legitimate exemption.

Fleurpepper did you read Daddima’s link. It clearly states that AA is only payable to claimants living in the UK.

Yes, my comment was about benefits in general. In this case, it is clear that it is fraud. Some benefits are exportable, others not.

maddyone

Fleurpepper did you read Daddima’s link. It clearly states that AA is only payable to claimants living in the UK.

Not true.

If you’re moving permanently to an EEA country or Switzerland, you may be able to continue to receive AA, the daily living component of PIP or the care component of DLA.

www.independentage.org/get-advice/money/benefits/benefits-abroad#:~:text=Disability%20Benefits%3A%20Attendance%20Allowance%20%28AA%29%2C%20Personal%20Independence%20Payment

We don't know everything about the person's situation and we shouldn't be making allegations of fraud.

So your friend's husband is really quite unwell and the first reaction is to have a go at her about claiming a benefit that is given so they can pay for care?

It is interesting that this is the second thread recently about "expats" where, iirc, the OP has not returned to update.
There was also a similar one on Mumsnet, but that got zapped.
You would think they would be interested in what people have to say. 🤔