Has Spain gone soft on benefits?
#1
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Has Spain gone soft on benefits?
I was always under the impression that Spain had a tougher welfare system than the UK in which political correctness was far less of an issue for them than it is for the British government, but from what I've read it sounds these days the UK is the tougher nation.
Perhaps I've got the wrong end of the stick, but from what I can gather if you are entitled to both, you are far better off being on benefits in Spain than you would be in the UK. It seems you get significantly more money a week in Spain, and living costs are a bit lower. Win-win situation.
Perhaps I've got the wrong end of the stick, but from what I can gather if you are entitled to both, you are far better off being on benefits in Spain than you would be in the UK. It seems you get significantly more money a week in Spain, and living costs are a bit lower. Win-win situation.
Last edited by COF; Sep 25th 2010 at 11:13 am.
#2
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Re: Has Spain gone soft on benefits?
I was always under the impression that Spain had a tougher welfare system than the UK in which political correctness was far less of an issue for them than it is for the British government, but from what I've read it sounds these days the UK is the tougher nation.
Perhaps I've got the wrong end of the stick, but from what I can gather if you are entitled to both, you are far better off being on benefits in Spain than you would be in the UK. It seems you get significantly more money a week in Spain, and living costs are a bit lower. Win-win situation.
Perhaps I've got the wrong end of the stick, but from what I can gather if you are entitled to both, you are far better off being on benefits in Spain than you would be in the UK. It seems you get significantly more money a week in Spain, and living costs are a bit lower. Win-win situation.
#3
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Re: Has Spain gone soft on benefits?
If you have been paying minimum social security contributions the amount you will receive in benefits is currently around 750 EUR per month
#4
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Re: Has Spain gone soft on benefits?
http://spain.othercountries.com/page...ocial-security
So what's that, about £630, which is £157 a week. In the UK the maximum job seekers allowance you can receive is £65 a week, and that's if you're lucky.
So what's that, about £630, which is £157 a week. In the UK the maximum job seekers allowance you can receive is £65 a week, and that's if you're lucky.
#5
Re: Has Spain gone soft on benefits?
http://spain.othercountries.com/page...ocial-security
So what's that, about £630, which is £157 a week. In the UK the maximum job seekers allowance you can receive is £65 a week, and that's if you're lucky.
So what's that, about £630, which is £157 a week. In the UK the maximum job seekers allowance you can receive is £65 a week, and that's if you're lucky.
#6
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Re: Has Spain gone soft on benefits?
From all the horror stories I've heard from British expats who hit financial trouble in Spain, I never imagined Spain as being a country with particularly generous benefits.
#7
Re: Has Spain gone soft on benefits?
Well, I don't claim to be an expert on the matter, I may have got completely the wrong end of the stick. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will be able to compare to two systems.
From all the horror stories I've heard from British expats who hit financial trouble in Spain, I never imagined Spain as being a country with particularly generous benefits.
From all the horror stories I've heard from British expats who hit financial trouble in Spain, I never imagined Spain as being a country with particularly generous benefits.
but yes - you pretty much do have the wrong end of the stick as far as I understand it
but I haven't used the system in either country so can't speak from experience
edit - just saw the figures
it does say 750 euros a month - & it does mention also that you have to have contributed to the system - unfortunately it doesn't say how long for, or how long you can expect to receive benefits
Last edited by lynnxa; Sep 25th 2010 at 11:27 am.
#8
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Location: Playa Flamenca, Orihuela Costa
Posts: 542
Re: Has Spain gone soft on benefits?
I was made redundant in July and am really struggling to find work. In the short term the benifits are really good but if I have not found work by May 2012 then we will be up the creak without a paddle.And i have 2 kids to support.
#9
Re: Has Spain gone soft on benefits?
Ok. You get benefits based on what you have paid in. Maximum 2 years. You start on 70% of your previous salary for 6 months then 60% For the remaining period. After that you get nothing. It may seem a lot of money but dont forget you dont get any help with children, rent, council tax etc...
I was made redundant in July and am really struggling to find work. In the short term the benifits are really good but if I have not found work by May 2012 then we will be up the creak without a paddle.And i have 2 kids to support.
I was made redundant in July and am really struggling to find work. In the short term the benifits are really good but if I have not found work by May 2012 then we will be up the creak without a paddle.And i have 2 kids to support.
horrible situation for you to be in after so long here
for you
#10
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Re: Has Spain gone soft on benefits?
Ok. You get benefits based on what you have paid in. Maximum 2 years. You start on 70% of your previous salary for 6 months then 60% For the remaining period. After that you get nothing. It may seem a lot of money but dont forget you dont get any help with children, rent, council tax etc...
#11
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Re: Has Spain gone soft on benefits?
Still not sure what we will do. We have the house on the market but as things are I dont think we have much chance selling at the moment. Also, would we be much better off in the uk? Would I get a job over there? I am going back for a week in October to sus out a few things.
#12
Re: Has Spain gone soft on benefits?
I was always under the impression that Spain had a tougher welfare system than the UK in which political correctness was far less of an issue for them than it is for the British government, but from what I've read it sounds these days the UK is the tougher nation.
Perhaps I've got the wrong end of the stick, but from what I can gather if you are entitled to both, you are far better off being on benefits in Spain than you would be in the UK. It seems you get significantly more money a week in Spain, and living costs are a bit lower. Win-win situation.
Perhaps I've got the wrong end of the stick, but from what I can gather if you are entitled to both, you are far better off being on benefits in Spain than you would be in the UK. It seems you get significantly more money a week in Spain, and living costs are a bit lower. Win-win situation.
As an example, an unemployed married couple who are clients of mine were architects but lost their jobs. They get two years of paro money at over 1000 euros each. Then it drops down to just over 400 euros each and then finally nothing.
With €2000+ coming into the household per month they have been able to use their new found free time to re-study (not much chance of ever being a successful architect again!) so that they can switch careers. When you are unemployed there are lots of free courses on offer so that you can re-train or do a Master, etc.
So for some the paro is very good indeed. However for others it falls far short. For example autonomos who regardless of the amount of years that they have contributed to the system get nothing at all, although some measures are being taken to rectify that at least a little bit albeit far too late for most.
#13
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Re: Has Spain gone soft on benefits?
Also, I'm assuming the system in the UK is different in the sense that if the main breadwinner losses his job and the wife stayed at home, under the UK system, as there are two adults in the household, both would be entitled to jobseekers allowance, as that's about £120 a week. Whereas in Spain only the person who was employed is entitled to claim benefits, so as you said, if they had a good job, that's not a problem, but if they had a fairly working class job, things could get tricky.
I guess the positive with the Spanish system is it puts a stop to spongers who don't intend to find work. In the UK people seem to stay on it for years with no real effort to find a job, while in Spain you are given two years, and that's it. Seems a bit unfair in some circumstances, but it puts a stop to the spongers.
I guess the positive with the Spanish system is it puts a stop to spongers who don't intend to find work. In the UK people seem to stay on it for years with no real effort to find a job, while in Spain you are given two years, and that's it. Seems a bit unfair in some circumstances, but it puts a stop to the spongers.
Last edited by COF; Sep 25th 2010 at 12:39 pm.
#14
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Location: West Midlands, ex Granada province
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Re: Has Spain gone soft on benefits?
Many UK Benefits are residence- based or income-based so it doesn't matter how much, if anything, you have paid in, everyone on these Benefits will get the same.
Also with the out-of-work income-based benfits you get your rent or mortgage interest and your Council tax paid too.
There is no time limit on income-based benefit, nor on some Contributions-based. For example, if you are entitled to either income-based or contributions based sickness Benefits, providing you continue to fulfil the criteria, then you can stay on them indefinitely.
If you are a returning expat applying for means-tested income-based Benefits, you will have to pass the Habitual Residency Test which basically means convincing the authorities that you are living in the UK for the forseeable future and have not just come to claim Benefits. Evidence of this for example could be a rental or mortgage agreement, a Bank Account, your name on electoral roll, a job offer etc.
The UK in my opinion is much more generous with Benfits than other European countries including Spain. Why do you think many asylum speakers ignore all the other countries they pass through and go to the UK?
Also with the out-of-work income-based benfits you get your rent or mortgage interest and your Council tax paid too.
There is no time limit on income-based benefit, nor on some Contributions-based. For example, if you are entitled to either income-based or contributions based sickness Benefits, providing you continue to fulfil the criteria, then you can stay on them indefinitely.
If you are a returning expat applying for means-tested income-based Benefits, you will have to pass the Habitual Residency Test which basically means convincing the authorities that you are living in the UK for the forseeable future and have not just come to claim Benefits. Evidence of this for example could be a rental or mortgage agreement, a Bank Account, your name on electoral roll, a job offer etc.
The UK in my opinion is much more generous with Benfits than other European countries including Spain. Why do you think many asylum speakers ignore all the other countries they pass through and go to the UK?
#15
Re: Has Spain gone soft on benefits?
Get a Cryunair flight over, go to the nearest SS Office and tell them you are broke and tell me what you walk away with, apart from the Spanish for F O ringing in your ears.