Benefits in France

kimi1977

Benefits in France

My partner is currently living and working as a language assistant in France, with our 18 month year old daughter.

She was receiving child tax credit & child benefit in the UK. but is now currently on a placement for a year working as a school language assistant. She receives around 800 euros a month for this.

We had discussed child care and nursery, but the nursery in france hs a long waiting list, and is 25 euro per week which is really good. At the moment she is paying a friend/nanny 25 euro per day, which is too expensive long term.

She is currently not receiving any UK benefit while in France, but I feel she should be?/have read that some people can. (you need to have 2 children or more to receive child benefit in france)

She asked me to pay for the child care while in france, but this would be £400 a month (I currently only receive sickness benefit due to a stomach operation a few months ago, so cannot pay for this as I only receive £288 a month myself)

Can she claim uk child benefit and tax credit while in france?
or at least some child benefit. I have told her to try other nurseries within the area but she doesnt want to take our daughter too far, as travelling a hour or so each day is too much she said.

I know the year abroad placemet is good for her career, but stuck as to what to do child care wise.

WillowCat

Would it be better for you to look after your daughter for the year? Especially as you say you're not working at the moment.

kimi1977

WillowCat wrote: »

Would it be better for you to look after your daughter for the year? Especially as you say you're not working at the moment.

I am currently, I take the ferry out and stay here in france for few weeks at a time, but the apartment is small, and I have to attend regular hospital visits back in UK so it's not entirely practical.

WillowCat

I actually meant for your daughter to live with you in the UK.

tomtontom

kimi1977 wrote: »

I am currently, I take the ferry out and stay here in france for few weeks at a time, but the apartment is small, and I have to attend regular hospital visits back in UK so it's not entirely practical.

Are you claiming means tested benefits as a single person? If so you need to advise the relevant authorities of your arrangement - especially your visits for a few weeks at a time - it sounds like you should be making a joint claim.

kimi1977

WillowCat wrote: »

I actually meant for your daughter to live with you in the UK.

I have thought of that, but my partner doesnt want to not see her daugher for long periods of time (especially as she suffered from PND)

owl_lover

Is your partner doing this as part of a university degree?
If so, she should be entitled to additional support from student finance

xylophone

https://www.gov.uk/living-in-france might be worth a look.

bloolagoon

From memory and it has been a long time since I lived in France the French child benefits were more than the UK - Ie £20 a week. Has she looked at french benefits as she's working there.

xylophone

From memory and it has been a long time since I lived in France the French child benefits were more than the UK - Ie £20 a week. Has she looked at french benefits as she's working there.

http://www.la-croix.com/Famille/Actualite/Allocations-familiales-le-principe-d-universalite-ecorne-2014-10-19-1251507

The times they are a changin..?

FBaby

I believe it is still in place that you can't claim before you have two children.