Been home 5 weeks now
#16
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Joined: Feb 2011
Location: Belfast. N.Ireland
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Re: Been home 5 weeks now
I never paid any NI contributions while in America. I just paid the social security for the states. Never knew you could pay to Britain while abroad. I got approved for income based benefits.
I went to America at 24 and came back now at 28. To be honest, never really bothered to learn about laws or certain things to do with returning. Came home and went straight to the benefits place and had to prove i was home for good, 3 weeks later got approved for all the benefits we applied for and just waiting on the child benefit coming back now. Had no real bother with anything.
It is like we never left. Still registered at my own doctors etc etc. Just fell back into normal life. I never knew there was all this ordeal with benefits till reading this site.
I went to America at 24 and came back now at 28. To be honest, never really bothered to learn about laws or certain things to do with returning. Came home and went straight to the benefits place and had to prove i was home for good, 3 weeks later got approved for all the benefits we applied for and just waiting on the child benefit coming back now. Had no real bother with anything.
It is like we never left. Still registered at my own doctors etc etc. Just fell back into normal life. I never knew there was all this ordeal with benefits till reading this site.
#17
Re: Been home 5 weeks now
I was thinking of the financial, taxation and selective service issues when they get older. It's a long way off, but they will need to comply with US tax and financial regulations. This might become an issue earlier if they ever have UK bank or saving accounts that go over $10k, say if they are saving for university.
#18
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Location: Belfast. N.Ireland
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Re: Been home 5 weeks now
I was thinking of the financial, taxation and selective service issues when they get older. It's a long way off, but they will need to comply with US tax and financial regulations. This might become an issue earlier if they ever have UK bank or saving accounts that go over $10k, say if they are saving for university.
#20
Re: Been home 5 weeks now
Yes, as they were born in the US they are automatically US citizens. This has some positives if they ever want to live and work in America, but if the live outside the US is makes taxes and finances more complex. Its actually rare to have to pay the US anything as there are allowances and credits for UK tax paid, but owning UK based unit trusts, ISAs and UK pensions all become difficult. Also the US citizen has to report foreign accounts over $10k so it can become a paperwork nightmare and if you get it wrong there a stiff fines.
Last edited by nun; Jul 17th 2011 at 7:00 pm.
#22
Re: Been home 5 weeks now
Sounds to me like you are the rude one...kind of the Pot, Kettle thing
#23
Re: Been home 5 weeks now
How is that rude.?? just a different way of thinking....if you wanted the govenment to take care of you, you should never have gone to the US to begin with..to be happy to come back to get on benefits..weird!!
Sounds to me like you are the rude one...kind of the Pot, Kettle thing
Sounds to me like you are the rude one...kind of the Pot, Kettle thing
You're right. I was just as rude as you.
#24
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Re: Been home 5 weeks now
hhmm ok
I actually served in the US Army as a British citizen and after my medical discharge they did nothing to correct my severe spinal injuries from my service as i was not a citizen. So the British NHS is actually there to help. Oh and I am disabled from the military and not able to work for probably another few years and that is why I am getting any benefits. Think that's why it is there in the first place, to help people.
Go fly the US flag and think about the men and women who have died for that flag and the one's left with permanent disabilities from serving to protect your right to live under that flag.
Typical pig ignorant yank attitude. Learn facts before speaking.
I actually served in the US Army as a British citizen and after my medical discharge they did nothing to correct my severe spinal injuries from my service as i was not a citizen. So the British NHS is actually there to help. Oh and I am disabled from the military and not able to work for probably another few years and that is why I am getting any benefits. Think that's why it is there in the first place, to help people.
Go fly the US flag and think about the men and women who have died for that flag and the one's left with permanent disabilities from serving to protect your right to live under that flag.
Typical pig ignorant yank attitude. Learn facts before speaking.
Last edited by bigmattE; Jul 17th 2011 at 8:34 pm.
#25
Re: Been home 5 weeks now
hhmm ok
I actually served in the US Army as a British citizen and after my medical discharge they did nothing to correct my severe spinal injuries from my service as i was not a citizen. So the British NHS is actually there to help. Oh and I am disabled from the military and not able to work for probably another few years and that is why I am getting any benefits. Think that's why it is there in the first place, to help people.
Go fly the US flag and think about the men and women who have died for that flag and the one's left with permanent disabilities from serving to protect your right to live under that flag
Typical pig ignorant yank attitude. Learn facts before speaking.
I actually served in the US Army as a British citizen and after my medical discharge they did nothing to correct my severe spinal injuries from my service as i was not a citizen. So the British NHS is actually there to help. Oh and I am disabled from the military and not able to work for probably another few years and that is why I am getting any benefits. Think that's why it is there in the first place, to help people.
Go fly the US flag and think about the men and women who have died for that flag and the one's left with permanent disabilities from serving to protect your right to live under that flag
Typical pig ignorant yank attitude. Learn facts before speaking.
I apologize...
#26
Re: Been home 5 weeks now
hhmm ok
I actually served in the US Army as a British citizen and after my medical discharge they did nothing to correct my severe spinal injuries from my service as i was not a citizen. So the British NHS is actually there to help. Oh and I am disabled from the military and not able to work for probably another few years and that is why I am getting any benefits. Think that's why it is there in the first place, to help people.
I actually served in the US Army as a British citizen and after my medical discharge they did nothing to correct my severe spinal injuries from my service as i was not a citizen. So the British NHS is actually there to help. Oh and I am disabled from the military and not able to work for probably another few years and that is why I am getting any benefits. Think that's why it is there in the first place, to help people.
Last edited by nun; Jul 17th 2011 at 8:57 pm.
#27
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Location: Belfast. N.Ireland
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Re: Been home 5 weeks now
NHS is such a huge help. Due to my non citizenship I was unable for the VA and due to the fact I am classed as disabled I am unable to work. So I was not able to receive any help at all in the USA that other soldiers would have gotten.
I could not get health insurance either due to pre-conditions and all my med's cost around $1,800 per month. Medical life was a major role in coming home. Been a very difficult year for us. Being home, things are so much better and getting better. I am able to complete my degree while going through my medical operations and physical therapy etc.
I could not get health insurance either due to pre-conditions and all my med's cost around $1,800 per month. Medical life was a major role in coming home. Been a very difficult year for us. Being home, things are so much better and getting better. I am able to complete my degree while going through my medical operations and physical therapy etc.
#28
Re: Been home 5 weeks now
What you have to understand is that most of us had no idea when we emigrated that the US was such a harsh culture and that a simple hand-up during hard times would be seen as 'wanting the government to take care of you.' Most of us just don't see it that way - we think that a basic social safety net is a human right, not something to be sneered at.
I think it's a shame that so many Americans have been conned into hating the idea of a social safety net - especially as so many of them need it. The rich do well in America but I don't understand how they convinced ordinary folk that they should have to struggle to survive. Nice con job though!
#29
Re: Been home 5 weeks now
What you have to understand is that most of us had no idea when we emigrated that the US was such a harsh culture and that a simple hand-up during hard times would be seen as 'wanting the government to take care of you.' Most of us just don't see it that way - we think that a basic social safety net is a human right, not something to be sneered at.
I think it's a shame that so many Americans have been conned into hating the idea of a social safety net - especially as so many of them need it. The rich do well in America but I don't understand how they convinced ordinary folk that they should have to struggle to survive. Nice con job though!