Elle1971

I too am glad they're clamping down. I paid my taxes in Blighty... and I pay them now in Spain. I've never claimed wrongly, and don't approve of others doing so.

Elle xx

anonimouse

It couldn't be easier

https://secure.dwp.gov.uk/benefitfraud/

Mitzyboy

For emergency treatment I can probably imagine. However for doctors its a little more difficult I can assure you. You have to register with them and theres a lot of information and detail that has to be given over including NI number etc.

Yes it does. I have been to a hospital in Alicante where a translator was provided. I dont really see a problem with UK hospitals providing tranlators. Even someone who can speak a little English can have a problem getting over the details of an illness to a doctor

anonimouse

Most of the Uk Hospitals also have all the direction signs in the corridors in Arabic too

mikelincs

When I lived in Spain we lost all benefits, but I did know of many people who kept an address in the UK, so they could keep claiming such things as Disability benefit, child benefit etc, They didn't have property in the UK, just used a relative's address.

whitelinen

I am not sure if the health number is the same as the NI number? but in any case the person registering at a doctors can say he is waiting for said number/cant remember it and/or ask for temporary visitors registration, all will work AFAIK.

As for translators automatically provided in Spain my experience has been the opposite at different hospitals in Valencia and unless the law has been repealed the law stated that any doctor only speak in Valenciano or Castellano with the onus being on the foreign patient to provide their own translator.

I have noticed several new posters appearing at our medical centre basically stating no SIPs card, no treatment.

JnK

Lionda

We knew a couple who were getting £2,500 every month (may have been more) in benefits and they even had a Spanish mortgage on the strength of it she supposedly had MS ... but was very sprightly ... and he seemed ok apart from being very overweight. They did, however, visit England every so often 'visiting relatives' Mmmm I wonder

bil

I seem to remember there's a special 'grass' phone line for the VAT.

Perhaps they could have another for this so that anyone who fancies themselves as a grass can phone it in.

agoreira

They do? have you been in most of them, or is just hearsay? I've been in quite a few, and have yet to see any Arabic signs. I'm sure there are some, in areas with a lot of Arab inhabitants, but "most of UK" sounds like a typical expat exaggeration.

rugbymatt

The Daily Wail is quite good at letting people know these things.

bobd22

With you there

bil

I suppose it all depends where you place the blame. I'd be fascinated to compare figures if I could be arsed.

I understand that a lot of legitimate benefit isn't claimed, so it would be interesting to know if the total amount claimed was less or more than if there was no benefit fraud, but 100% legit benefit takeup.

Then it would be nice to see the total amount dishonestly fiddled by MPs each year.

Finally we could maybe see the financial damage done by reckless and grasping bankers and their pestilential ilk.

moving shortly

I couldnt agree more with what quite alot of people on this site have written. Only 1% is lost in fraud! Millions go unclaimed by families, the elderly and disabled. It appears that this new government has decided to purge the most vunerable in society instead of purging the real offenders which are the banks. Its much easier to bully the vunerable. I wonder if the television or the newspapers will show the banking boys swigging the champagne when they receive their large bonuses this year, I doubt it very much. I believe that the champagne swilling is just part of a normal week anyway.

bil

And to boot, it costs shedloads to stop a comparatively small amount.

I loved when they talked about making child benefit means tested. The whole reason it was universal was that it was cheaper like that as it cost more to means test it.