expatriate 23 years from the UK how can I claim UK benefits, what , how much?

Question

I am 54 years old . I am an expatriate from the UK for 23 years never living there or working there since 23 August 1984. I now live in Philippines and I am married with Pilipino wife who only has Philippines passport. I have 3 children all with British nationality and British passports. They also have Pilipino passports. I have a girl 6 years old, a girl 4 years old, a boy one month old. I have just been diagnosed with a disease that will cause me to have to give up work due to ill health when I’m probably 60 years old. My mother had to stop working with same disease when she was 60 and my father finally had attendance allowance. I remember my mother and father both worked never unemployed in UK for 30 years but the government still refused for many years to pay them their allowances. So I am going to try and find out what I should do before I accept any job in UK as LTD Company or as Permanent Staff.

I have been paying my Class 2 self employed contributions to pay for my UK pension all the 23 years I have been abroad. These payments are fully paid up to UK Government.


A COMPANY IN UNITED KINGDOM OFFERED ME 50,000 TO JOIN THEM AS ENGINEER IN LONDON WITH STAFF AND PENSION PAID. Or 35 pounds an hour contract to an ltd company.

IS IT BETTER I JOIN THE PEOPLE STAFF OR AS CONTRACTOR. IF YOU ARE CONTRACT IN UK CAN YOU CLAIM FROM GOVERNMENT IF YOU ARE SICK OR NEED ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCES, CAN YOU CLAIM UNEMPLOYMENT BENFITS WHEN YOUR WERE WORKING PREVIOUSLY AS A LTD COMPANY. I HAVE AN UNDETECTABLE ILLNESS THAT WILL HIT ME 5 TO 7 YEARS TIME AND I'M THINKING OF WORKING IN UK AND GOING ONTO BENEFITS WHEN I GET SICK . I HAVE NEVER EVER BEEN UNEMPLOYED AND HAVE NO IDEA HOW I WOULD GO ABOUT FINDING OUT THESE THINGS IE HOW TO FIND OUT WHAT I COULD CLAIM IF I'M SICK IN UK. NOW IVE GOT 3 KIDS SCHOOLING WOULD BE FREE, MEDICAL FREE WOULD THEY PAY CHILDREN ALLOWANCES, RENTAL OR INTEREST ON MORTGAGE.

OR CAN I JUST GO TO UK WHEN I'M SICK IN 7 YEARS TIME AND CLAIM BENEFITS. MY MATE WENT HOME TO UK WITH HIS WIFE AND DIDN'T GET ANY MONEY FOR 2 YEARS HE WAS THERE.

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT SUCH INFORMATION? I REALLY HAVE NO IDEA.
WHAT CAN I CLAIM AND HOW MUCH THE VALUE WOULD BE.

Answer 1

Some of the other people answering this question don't appear to understand our National insurance system or the rights you have as a British Citizen. You have paid you National Insurance contributions and so are entitled to claim. If you buy car insurance and then keep up the payments but spend years abroad then come home and crash the car - you would claim. It is the same principle. However, being self-employed and having a Filipino family complicates things. In fact they are very complex. The first thing to do is go to the DWP website and email them for advice. That is the department of Works and Pensions. They were formerly known as the DHSS then the DSS and now a lot of their resposiblilities are being taken over by job centre plus. You will also almost certainly be affected by the Welfare reform Bill that is about to become law and will discriminate against chronically sick people. I'm involved with other disabled people and a group that represents the chronically sick and we intend to protest about the new law. I've given you a link to the DWP and to my web site. I have a Human Rights page you may like to look at and my email address is on every page of the site. Contact me and I'll put you in touch with people who will try to help. Your situation is complex and the help you get will depend upon your assets and a lot of other things. You also need to see if your wife and children will be alowed in to the UK. The government is restricting entry from Eastern Europe. But as many immigrants here from Asian countries have brought over their wives and children - as a British citizen - you should be allowed to bring your wife and children here. There are organisations you can join now that will help - here in the UK and a European one that fights against discrimination too. The other answers I have read to your question will perhaps give you some idea of the level of discrimination and how right wing some peoples views are. They are also extremely ignorant of the laws - National, European and International laws on Human Rights.

Answer 2

Hi there You make no mention of asylum seekers who are not allowed to work and are paid 70% of benefit rates then have rent and all utility charges paid for them. Incidentally, asylum seekers must apply in the first safe country they arrive at!! You haven't mentioned the many thousands of Brits who leave the UK and move to other EU countries. Another thought, I have heard many people complain that EU people in the UK claim child allowance which they send to their partners and children in their homeland. They are paying the same level of tax as everyone else so why can't they do what they want with their money? Best wishes.

Answer 3

Hi Keith
I see you just joined answers - Welcome.
You will get a lot of opinions on here... aswell as some advice!
The best start would be the pension service website - Look on the 'Living Overseas' section at the bottom of the page.
And the Direct Gov site should help too with benefit entitlement.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/Homepage/fs/en
http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/atoz/atozdetailed/livingoverseas.asp

Good luck

Answer 4

As far as I'm aware, once you've declared yourself as living abroad, you've signed off your rights to claim anything from the UK, including NHS.

I really don't know how it works, but if those born outside of the UK can come in and claim from day one, I don't see why you can't....I think I'd come to the UK now though, rather than when you're ill, cos if they say no, you'll be stuffed.

Answer 5

ignore the fools above who haven't read the question.
you have paid your class 2 contributions and are still entitled to use the NHS although i can't think why you would want to.
contact an accountant to assist you through the HMRC stages i doubt you will get any assistance for mortgage interest as it will be means tested

Answer 6

We weren't good enough 23 years ago, but now it's hit the fan suddenly we are. So you have paid in contributions for your pension ok that's yours. But as for dipping into the kitty for free hospital treatment etc back off buddy. You would then want your children educated at our schools that we have been paying for all along. No mate take take take and no give.....makes Jack a very unlucky boy. Bye

Answer 7

So you expect to live away from Britain all these years paying no tax into the system, and as soon as you become ill you decide you want to dip into the pot and scrounge of the NHS. JOKER. Stay in the phillipines its people like you draining all the resources.

Answer 8

Get you, haven't you enough. more more more. Typical why don't you bring over the cousins too maybe my family can split their meagre benefits with them.

Answer 9

you have got some cheek.