Housing Benefit for under 25s

You could take that list Anya and apply it to the two that usually mess everything up!

Elegran and POGS - I am really shocked at that, I had been hoping that it was just the usual rubbish that the newspapers print and exaggerating it.

I wonder if the UK bills the home countries if migrants claim benefits in the UK before they find work?

So on top of what is paid to the EU ($millions) every day, there are also these payments as well - no wonder the pot of money keeps running so low

Hands up anyone who would trust UKIP with our pensions, the NHS, Education, Foreign Policy, Economy, Welfare State or even to look after their cat for the weekend

Magpie123, just out of interest, do you really think that UKIP will go from no MPs to enough to make any difference in the next Parliament?

Vote UKIP that's the answer. David Cameron says we can have an in/out referendum in 2016, why can't we have it now.

It is true.

My understanding is the EU has told the UK it has to pay £10 million unemployment benefit to migrants who have returned home and are now job searching.

Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia 'demand' we cough up. So far the UK has handed over £800.000 under EU rules.

There is an EU agreement that states 'citizens of one country who work in another country are 'entitled' to out-of-work benefits if they have paid national insurance for a certain period. The UK threshold is 2 years as opposed to other countries it is as low as six months. Ian Duncan-Smith has been refusing to pay up and there is a meeting soon of EU employment ministers next month and it could prove impossible for the UK to not be held accountable to pay out millions.

Michaela Marksova-Tominova the Czech labour minister says we owe at least £3 million. Barbera Petrova the Slovakian labour minister says we owe at least £4.9 million. Poland has not revealed it's request it is in the multi million pound area.

Not only will we have to pay up but there is obviously a worry about all of the other countries in the EU following suit.

We are held ransom because our benefits system is better than those countries who are seeking money.

Good old EU.

For crying out loud, I have searched and found it in other papers, and it seems it is (largely) true.

" The outstanding bill for the Czech Republic and Slovakia comes to £6.8 million and, according to sources, the cash owed to Poland is “much, much more”.

Poland’s labour ministry said Britain had been reimbursing countries but changed its policy earlier this year. "

"Exactly how much Britain would have to pay per unemployed Central European can vary greatly."

"Under a complicated formula devised in Brussels factors such as length of employment in the UK, salary and amount of national insurance contributions are all taken into account before a final figure is reached. "

"Under EU rules the UK—as the last state of employment--is obliged to contribute to the unemployment benefits of jobless Czechs, Slovaks and Poles who once worked and paid tax in Britain. "

"While the decision is not legally binding, no country has ever refused to abide by the commission's rulings and officials have warned that the UK’s attitude threatens the whole Europe-wide system of cross-border benefit payments, jeopardising the operation of free movement for workers across the EU. "

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/11124256/UK-embroiled-in-welfare-row-over-European-migrants.html

I can't imagine it is. If they are at home in their own country, surely their own government is responsible for any unemployment benefits.

It is in the Express www.express.co.uk/comment/columnists/peter-hill/516740/Peter-Hill-on-Miliband-the-EU-and-school-attendance.

On the same page is a staement that "A survey claims that more than half of all wives have a stand-by man in mind in case their marriage ends either through divorce or death."

There are no references for either bit of news - though the standby man one is in the Mail, almost word for word.

It sounds like Mail/Express sensationalism to me.

I have just read the following:

'Poles, Czechs and Slovakians are demanding millions in benefits from Britain for workers who migrated here for jobs but are now back home and unemployed. Evidently, we are obliged to keep paying them under EU rules'.

Does anybody know if that's true?

(Just seems a bit much to be paying out for people who don't live in the UK if money is being taken from those that do.)

I didn't realise you are not on the UK mainland - sorry.

No need for apologies Gracesgran, the fault is mine. Like all 'little Islanders', we tend to just refer to it as 'the Island' rather than saying it in full - I live on the Isle of Man.

The only one I could ask Gracesgran and FarNorth is my son (my daughter and I don't really talk (unless she wants something), my GDs are too young really and I wouldn't feel comfortable asking them) but he's never shown any real interest, if I try to talk to him, he kind of zones out.

I hadn't thought of AgeUK durhamjen so have just googled and we actually have one based on the Island (AgeIsleofMan)! I shall contact them this afternoon and see if they can help. I am thankful that you suggested that.

Many thanks everyone for listening and offering suggestions, it's a relief to have the input of others and to receive such useful suggestions.

Holly, do you have AgeUK on the island? AgeUK sent someone to our house to talk to my husband and got us more benefit.

A relative of mine was in a similar situation and the doctor thought that not signing them off as unwell would be a spur to them getting their act together and getting a job. It wasn't and the stress and DSS pressure just made their health condition worse.
I agree with Gracesgran, do you have a relative or friend who could go with you to put your point of view to your doctor?

Could one of your children go with you to the doctor Holly? I find mine very useful (not that I call on them often) when I feel quite emotional about a subject. They can be more business-like.

I didn't realise you are not on the UK mainland - sorry.

What will happen when your savings run out, HollyDaze?

I have no idea Ana - I feel very frightened by the future but I do have enough to live on for another two years (as long as nothing major happens with the house!) so hopefully, something will turn up

No, GrannyTwice, I have no income at all (other than what the house in Spain sold for which, after everyone had been paid (including outstanding mortgage), it didn't leave very much). My GP is generally very supportive and I am surprised that he would only agree to a one month signing off (when I wasn't working anyway!) after my husband died; it was after discussing everything when the chap from the DHSS came to see me, at that time, and he suggested disability payments, that I approached my GP. My children and GDs all say that I should go and discuss it with him again but, for some odd reason, I feel embarrassed to do that and keep putting it off - I don't know how to start the conversation with him.

To look at me, you would think I am fine and dandy but to know me means that I can't stand for very long, I can't walk very far and I have a condition that means I can never guarantee being able to turn up or, if I'm actually there, being able to stay for a full working day (this latter one gave me permanent exemption from jury duty - suggested and signed by the GP!)

Unfortunately, Gracesgran, the Island doesn't have anywhere near the provision and support network that the UK has and our CA are, literally, useless - they just gave me the same leaflets that the DHSS gave me. I have spoken to my MHK and he just said that he understands and that a lot of people are in the same boat (I know they are but it wasn't really the help I was looking for).

What will happen when your savings run out, HollyDaze?

Can I echo GrannyTwice's words HollyDaze. Have you been to Citizens' Advice? There must be someone who can help you.

But Holly that's terrible - you mean you have no income at all? Is there another GP you can go to?

I can see two FMs that should be in government imo

GrannyTwice - I don't get JSA as I would have to be fit and able for work and I'm not; GP won't sign whatever it is he was asked to sign (by the chap from DHSS) so I have to live on savings only. I will enquire if I can have a rates reduction (we still pay combined rates and water rates here) but was told I couldn't (nearly £800 a year as well ).

Thank you for your kind words also Anya

I am not sure that I am worried about that GT, although I do see that as a "benefit" the government has to. If you had paid into an insurance to give you (say) two thirds of your previous salary for x number of months they would not be asking what you were doing with it.

The government could help though by insisting that mortgage companies make it easy to switch to an interest only mortgage for a short period of time.

I would imagine (I am a great believer in the Pareto principle) that 80% of people get back into jobs very quickly. This would also aid the movement of labour to suit the market.

Grace- there used to be earnings related NI benefits - in 1980 I got earnings related maternity pay - I think it was for 26 weeks. The help with mortgage costs, if you are getting a means tested benefit, Is just for the interest. I can actually see the argument for the state not directly contributing to the purchase of an asset by paying off the capital but couldn't the capital component be paid and a charge be put on the house? In any event, it would save public money as if a family are made homeless, then their future rented housing costs have to be paid. And that's before we even consider the emotional costs of being made homeless.

Anya, I think you are echoing the thoughts of many. "We don't understand it" should be a headline for politicians. This is why I say the benefit, particularly JSA, needs to be more related to your previous years earnings. This would have to be time limited (3, 4, 6 months?) but all those wanting to get back into work as quickly as possible - the vast majority - will do that whatever they are paid in JSA but this will stop many having their house put at risk.

I also think we should separate Housing Benefit from other benefits, GrannyTwice* I know it is paid from Government coffers via the Local Authority but this is surely one area that could be totally devolved with the LA deciding how to spend the money best to help their local population.