Search Q&A
How to get back into the UK system......?
I can't afford to pay tax, so on leaving Belgium, if I stay a few weeks in UK before taking a 2 year contract elsewhere on the planet, should I sign on or just pay NI from overseas in the hope of contributing to a UK pension and becoming 'ordinarily resident' in UK.
After all, the choice is on the dole in UK or Eurozone or do a contract somewhere else.
You can't afford not to pay tax, as it's likely to catch up with you when you try to claim your pension.
If you have been resident in BE, you'll be eligible for benefits here, but you're unlikely to be eligible for anything in the UK.
You can "backpay" your UK state pension for 7 years. It works out at about £2.50 a week, so is excellent value, but only if you have already built up by paying full whack NI in the UK for 3 years +.
The choice seems bleak. Benefits should at least be better in Belgium, and there's only so much of it that the tax man will be able to take off you every month.
You don't want to pay into the communal kitty [taxes] but you want to take out of it [unemployment benefit/pension] and instead of asking the relevant authorities, you prefer to 'hope' & chat here ?
Managing personal finances is a learned skill not a guess & gamble.
You can go online and read everything you need to know from UK & Belgian authorities, ask the questions, make your decisions, follow through, pay the price and enjoy the benefits.
Or work until you drop because you're outside the system.
Good luck.
I guess you're f***ed then.
