Expat Forum For People Moving Overseas And Living Abroad banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Family Allowances

3K views 7 replies 4 participants last post by  christopheintheuk 
#1 ·
I am French married to a Japanese national. Our 2 children have both nationalities (fr-jp).
My wife and I are working. My wife has just applied for residence card and is waiting for an answer (I do not see why the UKBA would refuse but they won't provide any date for an answer)

So my question is are we eligible for any family allowance in UK ? If yes, how can I apply ? Who should I contact ?
If yes, I wonder if I can apply for 4-member family allowance, or 3-member.

In France I got a monthly allowance. In Japan, it was bimonthly if I do not make any mistake.
 
#5 · (Edited)
As an EU national, your dual-national children are entitled to child benefit (not called family allowance here).
The conditions are: You and your children actually live in UK and have your home here (so not temporary residents).
You have right to residence in UK - you do as an EU citizen if you are working in UK or actively looking for work and registered with Job Centre.
You are responsible for the children, which you are as parent.

You have to apply for yourself as your wife as a Japanese national isn't eligible to apply, though you have to supply her details on the claim form.

To apply, download the Child Benefit Claim Form at HM Revenue & Customs: Child Benefit claim form, print out and complete, and send it with your children's birth certificates to the address given.

You will get £20.30 per week for your first child and £13.40 for your second, so £33.70 in total. You usually get paid every four weeks staight into your bank account. It will take a little time before you get your first payment, as they need to do a check on your eligibility. Everything will be backdated to the day you and your children entered UK, provided it's no more than 3 months before you apply.

In addition, you are likely to be eligible for Child Tax Credit (if your total income is less than £41,000 gross per year). You apply by phoning Tax Credit Helpline at 0845 300 3900.
 
#6 ·
Thank you for your answers.
We applied, me and my wife, for a NINo (National Insurance Number) last monday and my wife received her NINo today. I did not get mine yet even we applied same day same place. Hope to receive it tomorrow.
Even my wife's all original official papers such as passport are in the UKBA for applying residence card, the JobCentrePlus provided the number. She showed copies of her current passport, entry permit and of the french marriage certificate, she brought the original expired previous passports, the certificate of application (for residence), some temporary french residence card (recipice even it was 3 days expired), some japanese driving license (which I guess is no use because it is all kanjis), a 10years expired california Driving license (it shows full name with picture)
Some council tax papers, bank statements and tenancy contract as a proof of residence.
Also a working contract.

Something strange is that an Australian co-worker who arrived in UK one week after me could do all the NINo application by mail. When I called the Job Centre Plus, they told me that I could not do this over mail. Is that something special with Commonwealth ? Because my wife is Japanese ?

Once I will get my own NINo, I will check for the Child Allowance.
 
#7 ·
I don't think it's to do with your nationalities. Sometimes an identity interview is required, sometimes not. Depends on the office, and whom you speak to.
It's called Child Benefit. Also apply for Child Tax Credit.
 
#8 ·
I had nothing to worry. I received my NiNo the day after.

I will send my application form for Child Benefit tomorrow.
They are asking for original birth certificates. I send some French ones hoping they will understand. They do not ask for translation. Also I guess translating "nom" "adresse" or "date" won't be to hard.

They also require some passport. They only ask "do not send photocopies of birth certificates". They do not mention anything about the passport. I then prepared copies of passport and French ID. I am not comfortable sending such important documents by Freepost.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top