NI Payments, Child Benefit and full time student

LittleYoda

Hello

Whilst living outside the EU ( from Jan 2011 to Apr 2012) our daughter was born, in November 2011. Since Apr 2012 we have been living in Spain.

In three weeks I will be returning to the UK to undertake a PGCE.

We are not in receipt of child benefit and since leaving the UK have not paid any NI payments.

I intend to apply for Child Benefit when I am back in the UK, but understand that to receive Child Benefit I need to be paying NI contributions.

How do I go about making NI contributions as a full time student?

Do I need to make voluntary contributions to get Child Benefit?

Any advice or suggestions on how to get child benefit as a full time student gratefully received.


Thanks

Dunroamin

Are your wife and child remaining in Spain?

LittleYoda

Yes, my wife and child will remain in Spain.

I am financially responsible for both of them.

I have just rung Child Benefit and they could not confirm the situation, other than to advise me to put a claim in.

I got the following of the directgov website:

If you've come to the UK but your child has stayed behind
There are different arrangements for Child Benefit depending on whether you are working and if you're a national of a European Economic Area (EEA) country or not. Whatever your situation, you won't qualify unless you're responsible for your child.


If however you are a national of an EEA country or Switzerland, you can usually get Child Benefit even if your child doesn't come to the UK. But your child will need to be living in an EEA country or Switzerland.

I have also just read that child benefit is not a means tested benefit and is not dependent on NI contributions.

melancholly

This might be a question for the benefits board. Things on there can get a little ugly though, so go in with a hard hat on and there are some posters on there who are experts!

Dunroamin

Why don't you get the Spanish equivalent of child benefit?

LittleYoda

I have applied for the Parents Learning Allowance through SFE.

SFE have advised that they I need to send them my child benefit letter to be considered for Parents' Learning Allowance.

Thanks

LY

skylight

Dunroamin wrote: »

Why don't you get the Spanish equivalent of child benefit?

Because its the on of the only benefits available in Spain. In the UK, child benefit opens up tax credits too..

Dunroamin

skylight wrote: »

Because its the on of the only benefits available in Spain. In the UK, child benefit opens up tax credits too..

Sorry, I don't understand what you mean.

If the OP has been living and working in Spain with his family he would be eligible to claim the Spanish equivalent of child benefit.

OP, I believe that you can only claim CB for a child living abroad if you are actually working in the UK.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/start/who-qualifies/live-work-abroad.htm

LittleYoda

I have just rung the Child Benefit helpline and they couldn't confirm, other than to say to send in a claim form.

They did say that Child Benefit is not a contribution based benefit.

I have not been working whilst in Spain, however was working outside the EU before arriving here. My wife is not working, nor will be as she is taking full time care of our child.

I will send a claim form and see what happens......

Caz3121

Are you going to be working and paying tax in the UK

System

As you are only coming here for a course I think you may fail the 'ordinarily residence' test.


http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/ch5_notes.pdf

A person must be present, ordinarily resident and have a right to reside in the UK to get Child Benefit.