Should new immigrants be barred from NHS and welfare?

Question

I argue that all new immigrants should be have a mandatory cooling off period, followed by 5 years of proven paid employment with taxation records to substantiate, before being allowed any access to publically-funded welfare of any sort.
In the case of economic hardship welfare by deferred low-interest loan only and surrender of passports.

This would restrict welfare to only those who have been proven contributors and thus, eliminate scammers.

It would remove the non-contributing new-entrant drain on a heavily burdened system which most likely the two main parties are not keen to further fund and most likely will privatise the most economcially viable (NHS will be 1st- mark my words [if you had it- and were a slimey politician- wouldn't you flog it off too?]) it'll go to a German insurer- I'd put money on it)

I digress, what are your thoughts re: temporarily
suspending welfare for imigrants (refuges & asylum included)?

I repeat this q cos I put it in the US section y'day

Ruby Mae- your racism and overt insinuation of racism are highly offensive. I demand an apology.

Madhavan- I don't point- we English consider it highly rude and disrespectful old chap.

Answer 1

They come to claim benefits not available in their own country.
All illegal immigrants are law breakers and we should put up a system to deport every one, anything else is an insult to law abiding indigenous British people. This is not "racist" it is a political statement

Look, being able to draw UK benefits, health, schooling, social security etc is UK National Insurance and may be worth a capital sum of £250,000 to a family . Just get an insurance man to work out the cost of such benefits with private insurance companies.

That is what many come to the UK for , the Africans and Muslims and others do not have such services and without them many would not come to the UK.

Answer 2

I do agree that anyone coming to live here should prove that they will not need recourse to public funds (NHS or Benefits), at least until they have worked for a reasonable amount of time and contributed National Insurance. They should be covered by whatever scheme is in operation in the country they have left until they have been granted leave to remain, found a job and paid enough National Insurance Contribs. Or else take out Private Insurance. This is what I dislike about the EU. Anyone from an EU country, even the poorest ones, can circumvent this and come here to benefit from the safety nets set out for our own people.

I have always worked but in 2003 I went part time just for a year. (I was married at the time and hubby had a good job so it was with his blessing). I have worked full time since then.

Imagine my horror then when for the first time in my life I tried to claim Jobseekers' Allowance this June only to be told that because "during 2003 I had not paid enough Nat Ins contributions" I was entitled to **** all. I was so angry about that. Just where have the Nat Insurance Contributions I've been paying for the rest of my working life gone? Into some chav's pocket probably.

I've been told I'll have to wait until the tax year rolls over again next April before I'd be allowed to claim but I won't need it then as my son will be over a year old and I'll have found a job by then. So thanks for nothing, DSS.

Answer 3

I agree in general. Im half Assyrian, so im of immigrant stock.

My father has worked hard all his life, runs his own business, speaks perfect english, most of his friends are english, hes patriotic and loyal.

Thats how it should be!

A cooling off period is a good idea. In that time immigrants should show that they are law abiding, speak the language, are socially and culturally compatible, loyal, in full time employment etc, and only then should they be granted rights as full citizens!...after swearing allegiance to Britain.

Basically, many people come to UK because its an easy target, they KNOW, theyl get free healthcare, housing, education, legal representation......many of them dont give a stuff about Britain, its people, culture, history or values......sadly that doesnt just apply to Somalis, Kurds, Albanians etc, but to some of our more established migrant communities...look at the crime rate, unemployment levels and broken families in the Afro-Carribean communities, and the hatred and contempt of a frightening number of South Asian Muslims towards Britain, its culture, social norms, values and other religions.

Answer 4

And what real difference would this make. As Captainstarthingy above pointed out, it is already the case that nonEU residents are liable to pay for any care they receive from the NHS.

Given that the overall annual expenditure on the NHS is now around the £90b mark. The amount of money spent to treat and care for imigrants in this country is negligable

Answer 5

I think the present situation here in UK is that illegal immigrants do not get anything, no benefits, and certainly no NHS treatment[s].

Anyone claiming benefits is going to have to prove who they are and when they cannot do that, they are not going to get any help. In other words, if an illegal immigrant tried to claim benefit or NHS treatment, he/she would be arrested and they cannot afford to take that risk.

There may be some confusion in the public mind between 'illegal immigrants' and EU citizens from Eastern Europe, Poland and etc. Polish citizens are fully paid up members of the EU and Poland is a member of NATO. Polish citizens do not need permission to come and work/live in the UK and they are automatically entitled to NHS and plus any benefits. It's a Euro-wide reciprocal arrangement. You get sick in Poland, they take care of you, no questions asked. Same in reverse.

Answer 6

Probably the reason why there are so many immigrants in the US and Britain is that they are a source of young, cheap labor without many health issues and the govts of both countries want them to come in so that the companies hiring people there can keep discriminating against older workers in their countries with health problems...

Answer 7

It's tru but they should do it because they are "new" immigrants and that's all, if you are going to check employment, taxes, etc, etc is kinda hard to do it, since i have seen A LOT of african americans, getting welfare, food stamps and all kinds of free staff for YEARS, buying the best clothing for their kids, expensive cars (suv's, like escalade), nails done every week, hair (this is expensive), and the list goes on and on, i think they shoul have a program of auditors to check on people and question them why?, Why they get all those expenses if they don;t really need since they are "low income" right?

Answer 8

Five years might be a bit too long to justify, particularly as the Human Rights bods want to stamp their feet at anything that doesn't pander to anyone who turns up in the U.K.

We do need to act on this matter as you suggest. Our infrastructure is not able cope with the demands put upon it.

with regard to Asylum. If it can be proven that those seeking Asylum have passed through another suitable country in order to get here, they are to be returned forthwith. After all(digressing slightly) If your children get allocated a school place in your catchment area, you cant decide to take them up the road to one that has better ofsted stats and dump them at reception on the first day of school just as the fancy takes you. Nearest safe country please! If we are to be a united europe then let's share the burden.

Answer 9

I cannot agree with you. No doubt, there are some who abuse the system but immigrants are a vital part of our society. Rather than make it difficult for them we should help them become useful members of our society.
Our ageing population is going to make it difficult for us as we grow older. We need many immigrants to solve the problems that are facing.
We must spend a fortune on trying to control them and ensure they cannot contribute. Why do we not spend the same resources in developing a national plan for their integration.
One of the other answers already stated the obvious, namely. we need them more than they need us.

Answer 10

Good question. On the surface I would say it is fine to do it that way. But what makes you think all the people born in this country currently on welfare have shown any kind desire to work and make a living for themselves.

My take is an immigrant will more than likely be beating the bush to get out and find a job much quicker than the scum who are born here and take advantage of the system.