Moving to mainland europe from uk how will it affect???

[Ned Senior]

I had abreakdown some years back (schizophrenia)
Doctors say that If I get a job the stresses will probably set me right back and I will be VERY ill again something which I would like to avoid as I have done for years now
I receive disability living allowance and income support benefits and wondered....

SO MY QUESTION IS....???
If I were to naff off from the uk to say france belgium or spain to live would I still be able to recieve a reasonable income via benefits???


I am not lazy and if you were aware of the state of a "schizo" and what troubles there mind gives them when ill you would see that not working really is the best option
I really hate being more or less "trapped" up here in Liverpool where it is usually cool and damp and not good for depression

I hope someone out there has some knowledge on this thanks

[Toddyhead]

I thought that state benefits were equal across the EU now? However, perhaps it's best to chat to someone impartial like the Citizens Advice Bureau and see what they say?

[dazza74]

Quite interested myself in this thread, had a quick google and this might be worth a read :

http://www.dls.org.uk/advice/factshe...its_abroad.pdf

[Ned Senior]

Originally Posted by dazza74

Quite interested myself in this thread, had a quick google and this might be worth a read :

http://www.dls.org.uk/advice/factshe...its_abroad.pdf

going by what I read on your link the payments are only for a limited period mate

[Iccz]

I thought the best benefits were in the UK, that's why everyone comes here to sponge off us

[johntheexpat]

From this

Disability Living Allowance and Attendance
Allowance
If you are going abroad permanently, you cannot usually get
Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance. However, if
you started to get Disability Living Allowance or Attendance
Allowance before 1 June 1992, you may be able to carry on
getting it if you live in the EEA or Switzerland.
If your stay abroad is temporary, you can usually continue
getting Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance for
26 weeks. You may be able to continue getting Disability Living
Allowance or Attendance Allowance for longer if you are going
abroad only for medical treatment for your illness or disability.
Your stay, however, must still be temporary.

So, the UK will support you for 26 weeks, in which time you either have to get yourself into the French system (or whichever country) or return home.

However 6 months should be enough to see if living abroad is viable.

Ahh, the French Mediterranean coast between November and April. Balmy warm(ish) days, very few tourists, cheap accommodation, excellent seafood, lots of easy work to be picked up amongst the UK expats, even (if you are lucky), house-sitting.

Sitting outside a cafe drinking coffee in one of those small French southern towns, Sete, Fitou, or further along Aigues Mortes (not a pleasant name!) or saintes Marie de la Mer, watching life gently pass you by on a warm winter afternoon...................

[Ned Senior]

Originally Posted by johntheexpat

From this



So, the UK will support you for 26 weeks, in which time you either have to get yourself into the French system (or whichever country) or return home.

However 6 months should be enough to see if living abroad is viable.

Ahh, the French Mediterranean coast between November and April. Balmy warm(ish) days, very few tourists, cheap accommodation, excellent seafood, lots of easy work to be picked up amongst the UK expats, even (if you are lucky), house-sitting.

Sitting outside a cafe drinking coffee in one of those small French southern towns, Sete, Fitou, or further along Aigues Mortes (not a pleasant name!) or saintes Marie de la Mer, watching life gently pass you by on a warm winter afternoon...................

ooooh warmth

[dazza74]

Originally Posted by Iccz

I thought the best benefits were in the UK, that's why everyone comes here to sponge off us

The OP's asking whether he can get the same level of benefits paid to him in another country. It would make sense I feel for our government to allow migration on those grounds and still pay benefits, would free up housing for starters in this country. I guess the problem lies as with any EU matter that you would have to be able to offer the same conditions here to other EU countries, wouldn't be a one way street.

[Jenn]

This may be of interest:

Qualifying for French Disability Benefits - AngloINFO Poitou-Charentes (France)

[dazza74]

Originally Posted by protector

ooooh warmth

Maybe the only practical option would be to try if possible to save a small amount of your benefits money each week to go towards a week away somewhere abroad during the winter month's.

[Iccz]

Originally Posted by dazza74

The OP's asking whether he can get the same level of benefits paid to him in another country. It would make sense I feel for our government to allow migration on those grounds and still pay benefits, would free up housing for starters in this country. I guess the problem lies as with any EU matter that you would have to be able to offer the same conditions here to other EU countries, wouldn't be a one way street.

My point was more so that we are probably a soft touch on benefits compared to the rest of Europe.

[bosque]

Ireland could be a spot to look at because from what I've heard the benefits over there are much better than those offered by the UK. Can't see many (or any) European nations making it tempting to go and live over there - there must be a financial reason why people are prepared to risk their lives getting out of France and into the UK.

[dazza74]

Strikes me the OP is not looking for somewhere in Europe that dishes out better benefits, he's looking for somewhere that doesn't suffer with practically constant rubbish weather and poor summers (3 years in succession I make it currently) like here. Anyone who's suffers with depression can completely relate to this.

Something people don't consider as well is that it's not particularly cheap if your on low income / benefits keeping warm during the winter. The real irony is that it would be cheaper on the state moving people out to warmer climes like even Australia for instance, idealistic I know but a valid point.

[Dony]

Originally Posted by Iccz

My point was more so that we are probably a soft touch on benefits compared to the rest of Europe.

The UK still lags along way behind Ireland in terms of the value of unemployment benefits (though I'm not sure if there is an equivalent to the DLA in Ireland).

I think the UK is more of a soft touch when it comes to border control.

[Iccz]

Originally Posted by Dony

The UK still lags along way behind Ireland in terms of the value of unemployment benefits (though I'm not sure if there is an equivalent to the DLA in Ireland).

I think the UK is more of a soft touch when it comes to border control.

And who it gives benefits to