After reading the CRB thread,Made me think, I wondered how many on here now don't exist in the UK, other than your pension or future pension that is.

I don't, but I wondered if there would be some advantages to try and exist there again and if any, how would you do it?

You mean try and fiddle some UK benefits whilst living like a Lord in Spain ?

Well no I was thinking of Ex pats going back after years away and perhaps wanting a bank account. loan mortgage or whatever, I am told even car Insurance check you out and may refuse to insure you, If we don't exist it could make life difficult.

Like I say I'm not sure but thought about that after reading the CRB thread, if you wanted a job like this in the UK after years away it could be difficult, loads of things come to mind and yes I suppose benefits would be a problem too.

My daughter left school, went to work in Barcelona for two years then returned to the UK. It was a nightmare trying to get her a bank account when she was back in the UK ( Glasgow). In the end she had to tell them that she had returned to living with me. I had to be guarantor for her rented flat, etc,as she had no credit history, because ( they said) she had been out of the country. It was all to do with prevention of money laundering according to them, even though she had none.
Pete

and I forgot to mention, the Lottery won't even pay you without you being on the electoral role or paying council tax or proof of residence. It's a UK only game, Same with the Euro Lotto they will only pay to a resident of the country they reside and purchased their ticket from.

So a British holidaymaker shouldn't buy a Euromillions ticket in Spain, and I shouldn't when I am in England? I didn't know that.

aparently I do exist there!!!

I was told I might get a widow's pension from the UK...........

apparently because we both had paid NI there previously I might get some financial help

tbh I was completely gobsmacked at the possibility.......... but every little helps as they say

Seems you would be ok after all

http://www.euro-millions-review.com/...illions-rules/


I know the Uk lotto will check for residency, (told me on the phone)

I personally don't take that chance (not that I will ever win), I buy from a Spanish online site and of course I have residency here so.

From what I gather, (but I'm not sure) if you had not contributed for the last few years you would not be able to claim any benefits like ESA or JSA, however if you were totally skint and could prove you had set up home kind of thing you MIGHT get income support. if that is correct it would be a relief for many ex pats suffering badly from this recession and had to return through no fault of their own.

what I'm completely gobsmacked about is that I might get this, even though I live in Spain, & have done for getting on for 9 years

I made this very clear to them when I called - but apparently it's not what I'd think of as a 'benefit' - it's actually a pension

The widows pension is I think classed as a "right" so in the end in its own way it is similar to pension being paid to retirees and the winter fuel payment. Also as far as I am aware they used to give something towards the funeral too.

Rosemary

yes, if I qualify - if he paid enough NI before we left - then there's a one off payment (2000 GBP??) as well as the ongoing pension

I didn't know it even existed, let alone that it was transportable, until someone here told me they got it when their husband died - and they had been away from the UK even longer ago than I have & had paid hardly any NI in the UK - they hadn't lived there long as adults

Anyone know if it works the other way around - widowers pension?

I think so - I think the forms asked M/F so ................

Not sure but it should do if equal rights count for anything. However, if they use old outdated standards it may still be presumed that a widower of working age can find work (laughable I know). I believe the widows pension was set up originally because women in general were not wage earners so if their husband died they were left with no income.

When my friends husband died aged 29 she was astounded that she was provided with the widows pension because she worked full time as a staff nurse. It was only given to her for one year because they had no children but I understand that if they had children she would have got it until they left school.

Rosemary