General questions about claiming benefits

[zotteke]

My ´husband´ (we are not married or in civil partnership) is originally from the UK. When I got pregnant several years back he came to the NL, but naturally kept his own nationality.
Then the economic crisis hit and there were not many jobs to be had in the UK. By now we -especially me- are pretty desperate to go back but hesitant for fear of not finding or loosing a job.

My husband doesn't seem to know much about the benefit structure in the UK since he was quite young when he left himself. He doesn't have the time to figure it out so it's left to me. And I'm not making much sense of the governments websites at all . I hope you can help me.

I'm dutch, my husband is British we have two children who are also of dutch nationality. If we were to go to the UK and my husband could not find a job, could we claim any kind of benefit untill he does?

I'm a stay at home mum, but would have no problem working from house out as -for instance- a childminder. Apart from any kind of courses that I would need to follow to be quilified; untill I could do that, could I claim any kind of benefit being a stay at home mum? I'm thinking along the lines of unemployment benefit or something similar.

Many thanks for your time and advice!

[zotteke]

No one ? My mother has since today told us that she really wants us out of her house so it's kind've a pressing matter now. If this is the wrong forum to be asking these questions, please direct me somewhere else.

I still can't find any info whatsoever and some things I do find are too hard for me to read. My day to day English is good but any official documents are easily misunderstood.

[John]

Sorry I did not spot your post when you posted it before Christmas.

I'm dutch, my husband is British we have two children who are also of dutch nationality. If we were to go to the UK and my husband could not find a job, could we claim any kind of benefit untill he does?

Certainly some benefits will be payable in any case, such as Child Benefit and Tax Credits. But as regards JSA .... job-seeker's allowance .... does he currently have a job, which he will be giving up voluntarily? If so he might have problems claiming JSA for a while.

I'm dutch, my husband is British we have two children who are also of dutch nationality.

When were the children born? The children might also be British Citizens. Just supply the year of birth is sufficient, unless the year is 2006, in which case also supply the month of birth. The law changed part-way through 2006!

[zotteke]

He would be giving up his job voluntarily. We do have some savings, but those will only take us 6 months tops without an income.

The eldest was born in 2009, the youngest in 2011.

[John]

The eldest was born in 2009, the youngest in 2011.

Assuming your "husband" is named on the children's birth certificates, the children have been British from the moment of their birth.

He would be giving up his job voluntarily. We do have some savings, but those will only take us 6 months tops without an income.

He might struggle to get JSA for about 6 months, because he has voluntarily given up his job.

On all moving to the UK, where will you be living? That is, how are you going to arrange your accommodation? Staying with relatives? Renting?

[zotteke]

Since we were (are) not married at the time of birth we´ve had to make up special documents saying that he is the father of both children. These were made up before their birth. His name is on the birth certificate. The custidy rights we had to arrange after their birth (you can´t do that beforehand). Does that still make them British?

So after the 6 months, he would definately be able to get JSA? I do not expect him to be without a job for so long. Even in NL they usually are eager to take him in. However the job situation might be completely different in Britain. I know recession has hit many times harder there than it has here. Being so small without much influence on anything in the world has it's benefits i suppose.

At first we would need to rent. Hopefully we would soon be able to buy as rent is a waste of money in my opinion. Relatives sadly aren't an option. It's pretty much just us 4! He has now agreed on possibly moving there first for a little while untill he finds a job. This does simplify things slightly as there is a steady base to come back to if all is lost. As long as my mother sees some progress I think it's ok to stay a little longer...

The situation here is pretty desperate for us and I see no other option but to move back to the UK where my husband can get a decent job instead of production work. Since the outrages laws in NL constrict us to getting more than 366 euro in rentalhelp a month it is almost impossible to rent here. We can also not have a rent higher than 366 euro if we want to receive any help in our rental fees at all. That combined with other silly laws like a minimum wage which increases with age, not with experience or schooling rents us a student room (like a large studio). Or if we're lucky a delepetated apartement with at the most 1 bedroom. Living on concrete floors without even so much as a stove in the Spam .
For instance; I'm 20 an the maximum I made per month (working 40 hours to 50 hours a week) was 1100 euro's after tax. No matter my schooling or experience. It's crazy if you ask me, but I can't do anything about it.

[John]

His name is on the birth certificate. ...... Does that still make them British?

Indeed it does! They have been British since their birth!

Now I am not suggesting you rush off and get them British passports ..... they can obviously enter the UK on their Dutch passports. It will be easier to get them their British passports from within the UK.

Needless to say British Citizens are not required by law to have a valid in-date British passport. The lack of valid in-date passport nevertheless does not detract from their British Citizenship, which is based upon nationality law.

He has now agreed on possibly moving there first for a little while untill he finds a job. This does simplify things slightly as there is a steady base to come back to if all is lost.

From the logistical point of view I think that makes since. He can then rent somewhere, move in, and then the rest of you can move over to the UK.

Does he have any particular qualification or skills? What sort of job will he be hoping to get? Just trying to work out how difficult it might be for him to find a job?

Also, with no ties to relatives, it seems, presumably you can all move to wherever in the UK your partner can find work?

We can also not have a rent higher than 366 euro if we want to receive any help in our rental fees at all.

Here in the UK Housing Benefit is also becoming more restrictive, but at least it is based upon reasonable housing need. I think for a couple with two young children, it will be based upon two bedroom accommodation.

So after the 6 months, he would definately be able to get JSA?

I believe that to be the case. Especially after all of you are in the UK claims should be made for all available benefits. That will certainly include Child Benefits and Child Tax Credits. It could also include Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, and he should register with Job Centre+. He should continue to sign on as available for work, until he does indeed find work. That is the case even if they initially rule against a claim for JSA.

[Casa]

You may need to bear in mind that the minimum wage in the UK is also set by age...not experience. This is currently £4.98 per hour (6.1 euros) for anyone aged 18 to 20, increasing to £6.08 (7.33 euros) per hour above the age of 20. After tax and National Insurance deductions, more or less what you've been earning in Holland.
Also consider where you intend to settle. Some parts of the UK may have lower housing costs but this is reflected in the higher level of unemployment in the area.

[zotteke]

I have realised that, but the difference is that my husband has a host of qualifications which aren´t recognised (or valued) in this country. In the UK my husband alone would earn 200 to 300% of what he would in NL. That compairs from not even 15000 euro´s a year to at least 25000 to 30000 pounds a year. Apart from that you get a lot more house for your money where we aim to live. We both don´t really care where we live. Wherever there is a proper job available. Preferably somewhere halfway as a happy medium between amount of available jobs and value for money propert wise.

We certainly realise it´s not like a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow . Even if it wouldn't be a financial step up we'd want to move to the UK. There's nothing for either of us here. We have a lot more trust in the English schoolsystem but not the money to place them in 'The British school' in The Hague. The benefits are bigger than the downsides so for us it's an easy choice to move anyway. Just how to get there is only obstacle we have to overcome.

[John]

I have realised that, but the difference is that my husband has a host of qualifications which aren´t recognised (or valued) in this country. In the UK my husband alone would earn 200 to 300% of what he would in NL

If that is indeed true, and I have no reason to disbelieve you, clearly it makes sense to move to the UK.

What qualifications does he have? And whereabouts in the UK will he initially look for work? Casa's comment about housing costs varying is very true, and as your savings are limited, where to live is obviously an issue.

[zotteke]

Well we honestly don´t care a bit where we´d live. But my personal preference lies around the east midlands. Or around the peakdistrict. So anything in the region of Sheffiel to Leeds to Manchester to possibly Nottingham. I´d like to live in the middle of nowhere, thats no problem. Offcourse it´s gotta be somewhere near job opportunity, so it all depends on the combo between what he would be earning and the housing prices in that particular area.

His qualifications lay arround the mechanical area. I´m not sure which ones they are (they are a cm of paper when all combined), but i know he´s also got many for rail road vehicals. At one hand a limited job market and on the other hand it does pay quite well.

Especially the many different job´s hes had here make it possible for him to look for a job in almost any kind of mechanic area. Cars, cranes, fabrication etc. Also experience in leading teams of workers.

[John]

Right, don't know if it will help or not, but particularly as you mention a geographical area, and with your partner's work background, he might like to try Bombardier in Derby where they make rolling stock for railways. They have just won a large contract, so there is work there for a few years, at least.

[zotteke]

Thanks a lot! Will definately pass it on tonight !