Q about Child Benefit - Resident in NI / employed in RI

dsab

Good Afternoon,

I have a quick question.

We recently found out that we are expecting a baby. Now we are wondering about all the legal stuff.

Our situation:

Residing as a couple in NI
Wife working in NI and me working in the republic of Ireland

I am aware that I will be able to claim child benefits in the republic due to my employment there. What we were wondering about is, if my wife will also be able to claim Child Benefit in the UK due to her employment.

Or can it only be claimed once? I don't want to get into any legal Issues and want to follow only the legal route.

Any input much appreciated.

dsab

wifeforlife

As I understand it, you claim in the country of residence, not the country of employment but it's been a few years since I worked in ROI so things may have changed

HTH
Cate

dsab

I am 100% certain that I can claim in Ireland, as I am paying social Insurance over there. This is confirmed on the UK Welfare website.

I am just not sure if my wife is entitled to claim in NI based on her NI contributions, or if that would be a big no no.

blueberrypie

Child Benefit is not based on contributions, so it's irrelevant whether either of you works or has ever worked in NI.

If your family is resident in NI, you are entitled to UK Child Benefit.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/do-you-qualify.htm

and http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/living-working-abroad.htm

Living and working in different countries

You can usually only get UK Child Benefit if you live in the UK, but you might also be able to get it if you live in one of the EEA countries or Switzerland. However in some cases you might be able to claim a child allowance from the country where you work. For example you might live in Northern Ireland and work in the Republic of Ireland.

I don't know if you can claim in both NI and RoI - if the rules for RoI are that the parent is paying Social Insurance, then I would think you probably can, but it's probably best to check with the Child Benefit people - you'll also want to ask if you can claim Child Tax Credit (and possibly Working Tax Credit).

Old_Git

a bit off topic but I remember reading that polish people where claiming child benefit here but the children still lived in Poland so anything is possible

leftieM

I understand that, as an NI resident, it is child benefit in NI that you will qualify for. They won't (knowingly) pay out in both jurisdictions.

Golden_Anemone

You should be entitled to the much higher rate of Child Benefit that is paid in the South of Ireland - one of the benefits of EU membership!

Can't find anything on the HMRC website - (why am I not surprised? it's awful) but the Department for Social and Family Affairs website is very good. It specifically says the following:

Child Benefit and EU Regulations

EU/EEA citizens and Swiss nationals working in Ireland, satisfy the habitual residence condition for Child Benefit.
If you are an EU/EEA citizen or a Swiss national and work in a country covered by EU Regulations, the country you work in usually pays Child Benefit even if your family is living in another country. However, if your children are living in another EU/EEA country you should still apply for any Family Benefits you are entitled to there.
If the Family Benefit you get in the country your children are living is less than the Child Benefit payment here, your Irish Child Benefit payment will make up the difference. For more information on how EU rules affect Child Benefit, contact the Child Benefit Section (see 'Where to apply' below).
Countries covered by EU Regulations are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom (excluding the Channel Islands).

So make a claim in both jurisdictions - telling each that you are doing so - and you'll be quids in especially with the Euro being like it is. In fact you must be about a third better off now than you were last year because of the exchange rate! :eek:

I'm not jealous, I'm really not

leftieM

There's more infomation here. I'd give them a ring. There's a number on here:

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/News/know-your-rights/know-your-rights-2009/january-c-changes-to-child-benefit/

A relative who works in Social Welfare told me that they don't pay to NI residents working in ROI (of whom there are many) as they determined that the family benefits in the UK are more favourable that those in the ROI (they are if you're a low earner but not across the board.)

Golden_Anemone

leftieM wrote: »

A relative who works in Social Welfare told me that they don't pay to NI residents working in ROI (of whom there are many) as they determined that the family benefits in the UK are more favourable that those in the ROI (they are if you're a low earner but not across the board.)

I imagine they'll find it hard to justify that position much longer. In NI Child Benefit for one child is £20 per week and £10.48 Tax Credits unless earnings are low - total £30.48.

In RoI its 166 Euro Child Benefit and 83 Euro Early Childhood Supplement per month - total £249 Euro p/m = 57.46 Euro per week. The Early Childhood Supplement is being reduced to 41.50 in May giving a weekly total of £47.88, but it's still much more a week with the exchange rates the way they are.

leftieM

I know, it is much more generous in the ROI if you are above the threshold for extra benefits in the UK. I'm only repeating what I was told. the OP needs to check this out for himself.

Btw the Early Childhood Supplement is going at the end of this year.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments/social-welfare-payments-to-families-and-children/early_childcare_supplement

luckyg_2

As far as I know, your wife claims in NI and the you can claim the shortfall from the South as you re paying PRSI there.

Happy Days !