Benefits available

louisajack

Hi. This may be a difficult one for people to answer. But I'll give it a go. Firstly, I am posting on behalf of a friend of mine who does not currently have access to a PC.

My friend was born in the U.K. He emigrated to the U.S. when he was 26 and lived there for 20 years before deciding to move back to the U.K. He has various qualifications as a Physiotherapist and various other medical skills.

When he returned to the U.K. he was then informed by a number of employers that the qualifications that he gained in America were not valid in Britain, and he has struggled to find any kind of employment for the past 5 years, and has been managing to live on what savings he had and also financial help from friends and family members.

He has also been told by the benefits agencies that he is not entitled to any form of state unemployment benefits either.

I find it difficult to understand how immigrants to this country are seeming to receive state handouts, but a person who is British does not appear to be entitled to anything.

He has also attempted to return to college to gain the skills he needs to work here, but he can't seem get any college to enrol him.

I would like to know if anyone out there can offer any advise that I can forward on to my friend to help him with this issue please?

tomtontom

Given the length of time he was out of the country he will be treated as any other "immigrant". You may be surprised to know that economic migrants are not automatically entitled to benefits.

Can be not move back to the US?

TELLIT01

People coming to the UK, including British Nationals, now have a 3 month qualifying period before they can claim JSA.
As a British National, assuming he is still a British National, and hasn't taken US citizenship he will have been in the UK long enough to show that it is his home and should therefore be able to look at claiming JSA again.
You'd be amazed at how many people do what you friend did, ie leave the country for years and then expect to be able to come back in and immediately claim benefits despite not contributing to the system. It used to be easy to do so but thankfully some brakes have been put on the system although it is still too easy (in my opinion) for people to come to this country and get benefits.

Flyonthewall

If he's British and been back here more than 5 years why is he not entitled to benefits? I know for some things you get asked if you've lived outside of the UK, but that's usually within the last 2 or 3 years. Is it just because of how much he had in savings? Has he tried recently or just when he first came back?

Also why will a college not enrol him? Colleges enrol national and international students all the time and there's nothing to stop him doing the same or lower level than a qualification he already has, especially if his US ones are not valid here. He may have to start on a lower level course if a higher course needs specific (level of) qualifications.

Gingernutty

From the National Careers Service

To become a chartered physiotherapist you need a physiotherapy degree or postgraduate award (see below) approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). This will make you eligible for state registration and membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP). Check the HCPC and CSP websites for a list of course providers.

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
Health and Care Professions Council

To do a degree in physiotherapy, you will usually need:

three A levels including a biological science (PE may be accepted by some universities)
at least five GCSEs (A-C) including maths, English and a science
Check with universities for exact entry requirements as other qualifications may also be accepted, for example a health- or science-related Access to Higher Education or Level 3 Diploma in Applied Science.

When applying for a course, it may be helpful to have some relevant paid or voluntary experience in a healthcare setting.

You may be able to find paid or volunteering opportunities within the NHS, and with local charities and other organisations in your area. A good way to find these is to check the NHS volunteering pages and the Do-it volunteering website. The CSP also has some useful information about getting work experience.

Your friend probably knows this already.

It sounds as if you're not being told the whole story by your friend.

After 5 years here he would be entitled to Income Support at least.

Hillbilly1

If he has too much in savings, or a home or investments still in the USA he won't be entitled to any benefits here.

He needs to speak to universities that provide the Physio courses to see if his current qualifications give him any credits for entry.

It sounds like it might not if he is contacting colleges.

TELLIT01

Gingernutty wrote: »

After 5 years here he would be entitled to Income Support at least.

As a single person, not a Carer and with no children under 5 mentioned, it's highly unlikely he would have any entitlement to Income Support.
Was he told he had no entitlement to benefit when he came back to the UK and hasn't checked again since?

FBaby

When he returned to the U.K. he was then informed by a number of employers that the qualifications that he gained in America were not valid in Britain

Oh really? I think he might have not been totally honest about his actual qualifications and experience. The NHS does recognise American qualifications, as a matter, it has started some recruitment initiatives there.