370,000 migrants claiming benefits

[venator]

Just reposting flip-flop's thread,

I can't work out whether I'm shocked or unsurprised by this number!

Does this amount of migrants claiming benefits raise cause for concern?

http://www.telegraph....ants-on-the-dole.html

[jkelly24]

Where I work lots of the Eastern Europeans have kids here, send them home for parents to bring up and claim child benefit here! And they sit and boast about it!

[venator]

Try getting into the Isle of Man - outside the EU - I met one Polish barmaid in a week's stay, and she was being sent back.

[flip_flop]

You are incredibly naive if you think anybody Brit would do that redhelen.

[flip_flop]

Pressed submit before finishing.....

I appreciate you were being flippant, but Romanian benefits (if there is such a thing) will be a tiny fraction of the UKs benefits - if they weren't I would imagine the Romanian lady recently reported on who receives £25,000 net + her rent paid, would have been happy to stay in her country of birth.

[flip_flop]

Doing something that is legal doesn't necessarily make it right - migrants choosing to come here with the sole intent of claiming money may be 'legal' but it isn't right.

It is common for large companies, like Phillip Green's, to avoid tax if the avoidance is legitimate - but that doesn't make it right.

Legally it may be as black and white as you paint, but morally it most certainly isn't.

[NOX]

Actually Flip- I'm buying a lot of property in Eastern europe, as are a lot of other people as it's a very sound investment, so although Brits are not running in their droves for the east yet, as and when the infrastructure of these countries comes more into line with EU expectations they will as has happened in Bulgaria, where plots I bought a couple of years ago for a few thousand have fetched very respectable returns, start looking at cheapoer living options- as the old dears are entitled to their pensions wherever they live.

[flip_flop]

That may be so NOX, but I would be willing to be my left arm that I could not go to Romania now or in the future and get their equivalent of £25,000 + a rent free house for doing nothing.

[NOX]

No of course you wouldn't but people probably including your ancestors have always moved around for economic reasons, it's human nature and perfectly reasonable. Do you object out of interest to me living here? I'm Irish and although I've never claimed benefits I could have, and I don't consider myself in the slightest bit English and I am indeed only here for financial reasons and very much consider myself to be an immigrant. If my fortunes suddenly took a downturn would you be happy to hoof me out, or does it depend from which country someone hails?

[flip_flop]

No, of course not NOX, because you haven't come here with the sole intent of claim benefits.

[flip_flop]

Nope, I'm firmly of the opinion that the individuals are the problem. The EU may enable people to do it, but they aren't forcing people to do it.

[emmie]

flip flop there should be a situation where you don't get benefits until you have worked a full five years, and before coming here concrete proof you have a secure job and accommodation. It can be rigged i'm sure, but they should not be able to waltz here and hold their hands out.

[flip_flop]

Quite em - although redhelen appears to be happy that her taxes pay for them - because its 'legal'