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UK Benefits in Spain

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  • UK Benefits in Spain

    Hi. My wife and I are currently looking into relocating, permanently, to Spain. Due to different circumstances, both my wife and Ii are not able to work, and this has been the case for the past 6 years. The warmer climate, and lower cost of living are the main reasons for us wishing to relocate, plus the fact that we actually prefer the people in Spain! My question is what happens to our benefits that we currently receive in the UK? We both get Long Term Incapacity Benefit, and my wife gets Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (40%) also. Has anyone experienced similar circumstances
    Regards
    tonytee

  • #2
    UK Benefits here in Spain

    I think you should contact the relevant Dept of HSS in Britain, for advice as not all benefits are transferable even with medical support.
    A mate of mine was in receipt of a disability allowance following injury sustained in serving his country as a soldier. When he moved to Spain he advised the dept concerned and 2 yrs later his benefit was stopped.
    He appealed on the basis the effects of his condition were less serious in a warmer climate and he produced medical evidence in support of this.
    Needless to say he lost his appeal, and has had to return to UK for financial reasons.
    As predicted by the Dr's the effects of his injury has worsened, due to the colder damper climate, and he now qualifies for additional handouts due to him being unemployable.

    That is the UK for you.
    Perhaps he should never have advised the authorities that he was moving permenantly abroad.

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    • #3
      According to the DSS booklet "Social Security Abroad" number NI38, you can get IIDB paid anywhere abroad at the full current amount. I know too that incapacity benefit can be paid in Spain as a friend of mine gets it and was on it for some years before coming here, but they might review your case and make a desicion when you tell them you are moving. My copy of the booklet I mention is 2 years old so things might have changed, contact DSS Overseas Benefits Dept at Newcastle (your local office should have current number) and ask them to send you up to date literature.

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      • #4
        Hi Brian & Scouselover - many thanks for your replies. I have looked, in detail, at all information around on the web, and my first impression was, as you say, scouselover, that our benefits are payable in Spain. Strangely, the actual wording on IIDB suggests that it is payable OUTSIDE of the EU, so I was left to make up my own mind about INSIDE! I will follow up your suggestions, thank you. I suppose, Brian, if one was to go on about how much healthier one would be by going abroad, it could be deduced that the benefit may not be applicable any more! Personally, I am not suggesting I will be cured by going to live in Spain - just have a more comfortable life
        I do have a further question (but perhaps this is a different thread) - what is better, buying a new development property, or buying resale? Are the stories about waiting for years to be connected to telephones, sewage etc really true, or do they only apply to developments way out in the sticks?
        Cheers
        Tony

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        • #5
          You say that you are moving because of the lower cost of living. I think that you need to think things out quite carefully before you take the plunge. Council Tax is extortinate in the UK compare to local Spanish taxes. If you are still going to maintain a base in the UK as many people do for health reasons then you are lumbered with both. The same applies to property insurance etc. Before I bought in Spain I must admit that I had not realised that I would be liable to wealth tax. All the costs can mount up and suddenly buying a property in Spain is not as cheap as it seemed.

          The extent of the new development in Spain I think will mean that speculative buying will not be the good deal that it once was. People think that they can sell in a few years time and get profits of 30 or 40%. It is getting harder to sell older property because new build looks so attractive. Many of the people I see selling their properties in Spain are doing so because of financial constraints or returning to the UK for health reasons.

          Yes you are right it can take years to sort out problems with new builds and to get connected to services. This can be very stressful and you need to be quite assertive at times.

          Having said all that I don't regret buying in Spain but you should go in with your eyes fully open and not let the excitement blind you to the issues that need to be addressed.
          PaddyW

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          • #6
            Benefits

            The point that "benefits are payable in Spain" is fine BUT from what you quote it is not saying whether that is for a temporary period or permenantly
            You should check by contacting the relevant dpet of DHSS.

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            • #7
              Thanks again, Brian, and Paddy. My wife and I have no intention of retaining a property in UK - we have already established that it would be very expensive to run two houses. What is this wealth tax? I have heard about it, but am not sure how it works. As you say, Brian, I do need to make my owen enquiries re specifics - I wanted to get the real facts first!

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              • #8

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                • #9
                  Hi John
                  Thanks for the advice. We did think that, if we were going to live in Spain, we would have no choice but to apply for residency. Is there not a rule that if you stay longer than 6 months you must be a resident?
                  Where is the best place to look for a list of all the essentials of living in Spain, i.e. like residency, taxation, health, etc etc?
                  Cheers
                  Tony

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                  • #10
                    Hi Tony

                    There are many sites, you could try these first then go back to their home pages to see what they have to offer.

                    http://www.the-british-in-spain.com/legal.htm

                    http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/cms....9#introduction

                    I still live and work in Scotland but I have a holiday home in Playa Flamenca, near the start of the Sat. market. Over the seven years the place has changed a lot, more of a Northern European (i.e. Brits and Irish) community now. Quite a few of the Germans have left, I heard they were getting tax-breaks back home but maybe the influx has chased them away. I suppose there are lots of bars and restaurants on offer (e.g. Via Park I and II, Flamenca Beach) about 10 minutes away so you still have peace and quiet. Apart from the sun it is getting more like home all the time. I am paying off my interest mortgage in Scotland in a few months so will have two properties with no mortgage and I may just jet-set between them if I ever get paid off. Six months in Spain (e.g. Mar-May, Sep-Nov) and the rest in Scotland sounds good. I could keep my UK residency too as I have noticed it is getting more expensive in Spain over the years.

                    Regards

                    John

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                    • #11
                      Re: UK Benefits in Spain

                      Originalmente publicado por tonytee
                      The warmer climate, and lower cost of living are the main reasons for us wishing to relocate, plus the fact that we actually prefer the people in Spain! tonytee
                      I don't mind anybody having the option to live in Spain and it doesn't bother me that you might be able to do it on disability benefit, especially if it does improve your health. But don't you think it's maybe rubbing our noses in it a bit to say that you prefer the people in Spain?
                      In other words "Keep paying your National Insurance guys so that I can keep drawing benefits but the people in Spain are much nicer so I'm off there"!

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                      • #12
                        RickyT, how old are you? At 61 years of age, having worked hard all my life, and paid in well over the amount of Mr Average in taxes and NI contributions, do you not accept, that now I have a disabling disease, I am not entitled to support from the country I have supported all my life? My reason for preferring Spain is predominantly the weather, but, with the 'so-called do-gooders' taking over this country, taking away our right to be English, I have to say that I DO like the Spanish people. People, like yourself for instance, that make spiteful comments without considering all the facts, and employers that will not give handicapped people a chance to work for a living, merely because they do not understand the illness! My wife and I have given a lot to this country in our working lives, and have now been forced into retirement. We can spend that time here, in greater discomfort, or we can take advantage of the European Union, and spend what little time we have left in a warmer climate. Also, by selling here, and buying in Spain, we can provide a capital base upon which we can live, until our pensions come into play - OR we could stay in the UK, be less healthy, and find ourselves being supported by the state when we can no longer afford to keep ourselves.
                        I am sorry to go on at such length, but I get very upset with bigots that are always 'purer than pure'!

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                        • #13
                          Hi Tony,

                          To move on, have you considered the health insurance costs living in Spain ?. You are 61 so you cannot transfer your NHS records to Spain until the age of 65. I think there is an E106 form which allows you some period of NHS transfer of 'free' treatment in Spain, maybe 2 years, but from previous posts it is not straight forward. Also, there is the new health card to replace the tourists E111 which now runs for 3 years but that would be limited treatment and you would need a UK address. I am 50 so a long way short of retirement but it would be nice to get some posts if I ever did to move out to Spain full-time and I would need to consider health insurance.

                          Regards

                          John

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                          • #14
                            Hi John
                            That is the kind of post I am seeking - helpful! My health needs are a worry, although my main prescription needs are basically strong painkillers. We did anticipate spending some time in the UK, perhaps moving in with one of our children, so that we can maintain contact with our doctors, especially my Specialist (who, incidentally, wholeheartedly approves of the move to Spain!). I will be almost 62 before we move and, if necessary, will consider private health care for the three remaining years (before 65). Has anyone else experienced this?
                            Regards
                            Tony

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                            • #15
                              Hi Tony, I'm fifty three and have paid into the British state system way way over the average for all of my life and continue to do so. Unfortunately the state system is not funded but is a pay as you go system. In other words, all that we have paid in over the years paid the benefits for our parents etc and those unfortunate enough to have had to draw them over the years. Those paying in today are paying for the benefits of those drawing them today.
                              I have no problem with any of this. I am fortunate enough to enjoy good health and a decent wage. I have no qualms about paying tax and insurance to provide benefits for those less fortunate than me. I do not grudge you one penny of your benefits and anyone who knows me will tell you that I am most cetainly not a bigot in any shape or form.
                              My post was simply having a pop at your comment that you prefer the people in Spain. You're entitled to your opinion and I apologise if my comment offended. I'm glad to see that others have been able to be very helpful with their comments. Obviously, I don't know you, but I genuinely hope that you enjoy a long retirement in Spain and that it helps your health to improve. The Costa Blanca is, after all, a great place to live!

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