whether to gamble
 

Hello all, I currently live in Yalding in the UK, my husband and I were wondering whether or not 50 thousand after buying a house in Spain is enough to live on and settle in Spain?
I currently am about to get DLA for rheumatoid arthritis we also have my mum and sister living with us both are in receipt of either State pension and disability( my sister has downsyndrome so is entitled to it. It's either buy a place and settle in Spain or buy a boat in the UK which itself is a costly option.

Re: whether to gamble
 

Hi and a warm welcome to the Spanish forum on BE. I am the Concierge for the Spanish section and thought that you might find it helpful to know that the moderators for the Spanish forums are Fred James and Bevs, moderators are there to ensure that the site runs smoothly within the rules of BE.

Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderator who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are usually friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge of the issues of living in Spain. I hope that you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary

Re: whether to gamble
 

I have moved your thread into the main Spain section for you so that you will gain more viewings and therefore hopefully more responses.

Rosemary

Re: whether to gamble
 

Here I am not even to attempt to answer the financial question for like most things in life 'it depends'

However rheumatoid arthritis is something that I know lots about in that my wife has suffered from it for over 38 years and takes hugely expensive medication.

This is in the form of injections twice monthly.

Our experience last year of trying to get the injection was horrific and simply based upon costs. We had very limited success and had to move back to France where we have property and where it is and was readily available. Our experience was Javea/Denia hospital based and it might be different in other parts of Spain. Suggest you email the UK Consulate in Alicante they have a very active Health Section there.

It is one thing to look at the £'s but with respect there does appear to be other demands upon your resources and if it were me (and it is not) I would bottom out the Health side first.

Of course and again you might for RA take drugs like Methatraxate and this is available in Spain but if you up the anti from here you might be in trouble. Also think with RA monthly blood tests the immune system concept and bone density tests and the like.

Not trying to put you off for all things are possible but very seriously look at health and with some degree of caution

Re: whether to gamble
 

I do apologize once more. As to DLA it is restricted and if you move to Spain might be restricted more! See the ECJ rulings.

Re: whether to gamble
 

Hello
We have been told Dla you can not yet outside the Uk,
we have to pay back some now.
So check before you do anything as stupid as leave the Uk .
We did not check :thumbdown:.
good luck

Re: whether to gamble
 

I was under the impression DLA was one of the exportable benefits within the EU, I know that the UK government had to pay back allowances to my wife when they stopped them when we moved to Spain. The UK government was later told by the EU courts they HAD to pay it.

Re: whether to gamble
 

Hmm so much to take in, my husband is a self employed builder and Spain has always been our dream, we holiday there frequently,he is just concerned whether there is work over there and if not will my DLA be enough to float us by with the 50kk in the bank. I don't want to move over there and get stuck and go downhill financially.

Re: whether to gamble
 

with many thousands of unoccupied houses, many unfinished, and the fact that building in Spain is totally different to buliding in the UK, both in method and materials, he will join the many thousands of unemployed builders, Spanish and other nationalities, and be competing for the dwindling number of jobs. He will have no reputation to get him word of mouth jobs, and there are thousands of Spanish builders willing to work for less than minimum wage just to put food on the table. I would look on anything he can get as icing on the cake, and not have to rely on it. He wuld have to sign on as Autonomo (self employed), and pay his dues every month whether he works or not in order that you can accesss the Spanish NHS, otherwise you will need private health cover. People in receipt of UK state pension will get 'free' healthcare ( the 'free' is because you still have to pay something towards prescriptions).
You haven'y mentioned children, so I assume you have none to travel with you., otherwise there would be school costs.

Re: whether to gamble
 

If the DLA you are talking about is this one, you can receive it when living abroad according to the government website http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/payment-o...pean-countries

Re: whether to gamble
 

Thanks for that. We have been to the ECJ on this with others and let us say as a lawyer I have some relationship here.

Mobility allowance is payable in the UK but not elsewhere. Indeed if IDS has his way and part of their mantra lots more benefits including winter fuel allowance will soon be a thing of the past.

Re: whether to gamble
 

have to agree with this. construction work appears to be getting a teensy bit better, some of the cranes are moving and the cement lorries are moving - slowly....
couple we know came out here over 6 years ago, he was a carpenter in the UK. like all he "can turn his hand to anything" so renovated a couple of houses to sell on. then found there was very little building work, but concentrated on Brits only so that was alright....for a time. eventually gave up on the building work and started doing satellite and telephone systems for those without a landline. But found he had to travel further and further and make more than one trip to satisfy customers.
left wife and daughter out here whilst he worked in the UK
Never did finish the house he bought to do up and live in.
Now back in the UK full time with wife and daughter. They are still together but it was touch and go for a while.

if anyone is looking to come out here to work then really should have a different skill set. There are jobs out here, but usually in management with multi-nationals requiring Spanish language for day to day discussion with colleagues and staff. so get a job before coming out here, it really isn't the place to come without a removal package and a job to walk into.
people will tell you there are jobs i.e. in call centres only speaking in English - but they are like battery hen sheds and the turnover rate is exceedingly high with very low salaries and/or undefined contract.

Buying a boat has been mentioned - this is similar to buying a caravan. You lose 20% of the value as soon as you leave jetty. Unlike houses boats and caravans rarely recover the original investment so it is like throwing money out of the window.

.

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Hi there & welcome to our BE Spain forum.

I can't help at all as am in New Zealand . I just wanted to wish you all the best with whatever you decide to do to change your lives around a little.
My lovely Mum was completely ridden with wretched Rheumatoid Arthritis from quite a young age so your post touched a nerve with me.

Anyway, I can see you've had some responses. You sound sensible Lisa so, y'know, there are all sorts of ways to enhance your lives. It doesn't have to be a move to another country and therefore into what is really the unknown.

From what I have read here it would be best to be 'cashed up' and self-sufficient income wise for a move to Spain, although I am in no position whatsoever to judge this. It is only what I have read.. Nothing worse than money worries .

Re: whether to gamble
 

I am assuming that you have a property to sell in the UK to fund this planned move.

May I suggest that you rent out your UK property and rent in Spain. Very many have discovered before you that the dream is often far removed from the reality.

Your husband who it appears will be the main bread winner will join a long list of people with similar skills chasing ever few jobs.

Sorry to be negative, nobody likes their dream shattered but given your circumstances I would think long and hard before making such a move.

Re: whether to gamble
 

I too would hate to be negative but would join and absolutely so in this post. We rented last year in Spain and our properties in the UK were then and now rented out. You have to be absolutely sure and do the research. I know here in France that people from the UK have come across with dreams some of which have materialised. However the housing market is dire the political system uncertain and one's capital is wholly tied up in a house that has witnessed two viewings in four years (friends of ours in the Poitier region)

We really found the health service in Spain (especially the Denia Hospital) to be first class. But like most EU countries there is a cut back and the drugs for RA were rationed! I would again err on caution and health wise most certainly contact the Consulate in Alicante.

If you were moving house and job in the UK you would think long and hard. Double the effort for France and for Spain I do not have the experience but others here do! Benefit in the UK is that you know the system for better or worse and have command of the language.