CarrieW

Just wondered if anyone knew if, as an expat, I would be entitled to the standard child benefit allowance that is given to all children in the UK, after our little one is born in October?

I know pensioners who move out of the UK still receive their state pension so thought this might be the same. Also, do you still get the £500 to place in trust if the child is born outside the UK?

My husband still pays tax in the UK, as his employment contract is in the UK, so we are not able to claim through the Italian system as we have been told this is issued in the form of tax credits.

Any thoughts?

Many thanks
Carrie

OzzieNurse

sorry not sure about italy

jdr

You don`t get it in Spain, so I doubt if you can get it in Italy.
Does the Italian taxman know you are resident in Italy and paying tax in the UK ?

CarrieW

We have no choice at the moment re the tax - it is the way my husband's contract is done as the company is global and he was originally employed in the UK - the company do not want to change it as it would change other benefits too (and not in their favour!).

chris120

Your husband has to pay tax in the country he is anagrafically resident in for more than 183 days of the year, except for unearned income which continues to be paid in the country that the income is earned in. The employing companies’ preference is immaterial in this. Child benefit (and other benefits) are linked to National Insurance contributions, not income tax payments. If your husband has continued to pay class 1 NI contributions in the UK (there is a limit on how long he can do this) then you may be entitled to child allowance.
Some years ago we got child allowance AND maternity benefit on this basis whilst living in Germany.

TestaRossa

Do you still have a UK postal address? If you do get someone to send the forms over and apply through this. If you are paying the NI contributions you should get the benefit. We have moved here and mine is paid automatically into a UK account but both my kids were born in the UK well before we moved here.

I would also get advice about your OH's contract, but discreetly, I think this is not that unusual, so probably normal, but worth checking out.

One thing I would bear in mind though, for both the benefit and the Child Trust Fund I think you baby will have to have its birth registered in the UK. You may be able to do this through the Embassy in Rome - I would check with them or your local consul, otherwise you will have to make a trip back to the UK. Also when a baby is born you are given information to take with you to the registry office from the hospital, dr., midwife(for a home birth). I would even check with the DSS in the UK or get a friend in the UK to if you don't want them to have your name!

gypsygirl

We were told on their international hotline that you cant leave the UK for more than 90 days or you arent eligable to receive it. Its for Uk residents. If its a vacation I imagine its different, but I didnt ask that question.
You can call and not give them any info, just to enquire.

jdr

If you live for more than three months in most European countries you are deemed to be resident, effecting healthcover, taxes, etc.

Margaret M

Sorry, not really on topic here, but would our SSAS and SIPP pensions be classed as unearned income, and therefore not subject to Italian tax - just moved to Puglia so still trying to sort this sort of thing out.

chris120

I cannot answer this with absolute certainty, you would need proffesional advice. However, my guess is that as a pension is, effectively, an investment income then it woud be classed as unearned and if it continues to be paid into a UK bank that tax would be payable in the UK. If you elected to ave it paid into an Italian bank the situation might change.

Margaret M

It is being paid into a UK bank account. We will have to find a commercialista sometime soon, so I guess they should be able to tell us. Although it is good to have some knowledge first.

chris120

I am not sure if an Italian Commercialista is the place to start, it might be where you end up. You could get some good background info by going to the HM Revenue & Customs website at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/sa/forms/net-06-07.htm#a
and downloading and reading the guide at sa150.pdf
this will resolve many of your questions, even if it is a long boring read. Handy if you have trouble sleeping.

Margaret M

Downloading it as we speak, however as we intend to be letting one of our apartments it does seem as if we will eventually need a commercialista anyway.

AE 12345678

Hi, I just called the benfits office and they said that you would not be eligible for child benefit if you were not resident in the UK. But..(This is my view) if the child is born in the UK and you have a UK address and you pay UK taxes I don't see why you can't claim it. also, you may be able to claim it in Italy if the child is born there because of it will be Italian! You could look on the 'directgov' web site. They also have phone numbers there for you to clarify things. Good luck.

chris120

You need to be paying UK NI class 1 contributions to get child benefit, taxes are a different thing. Just because the child is born in Italy doesn't make it Italian. Its nationality depends on the parents nationality. Italian child benefit (assegni familiari) are means tested, unlike in the UK, and you need to be pretty poor to qualify.