liberty

Tony, My husband is Dutch, and is self employed here.  Would this form apply to him? He does pay alot of taxes here.   My husband also lived in the UK for 5 years before we moved here and also has a national insurance number. But, his taxes have been paid to the Netherlands.    

Does anybody know the position a person is in if they return to the UK.  My reason for asking this question is that a few weeks ago I wrote to a local benefit dept about returning to the UK and claiming DLA.  On the telephone, before writing I was told that as I had been out of the UK for 5 years that I may possibly be unable to claim for some months if I returned and that they are looking into this query. I have waiting over 4 weeks for a reply and I phone the dept each week. Each week I am told that the person dealing with my letter has been too busy to ge around to it. I was wondering if anyone knows the answer to this question? Can i claim straight away? or are there any rules about having to wait? I have read some info on the DWP website which says, quote: It mentions this in relation to many of the benefits, quote: You may be treated as having lived in Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man if you have been living in a country in the European Echonomic Area or a country that has a social security agreement with the UK.   But it doesn't state which benefits? and is pretty unclear. Thanks Liberty   But thats about all the info i can find.  

Thank you for the replies.  There are no benefits in the Netherlands similar to DLA unfortunately as all benefits relating to disability seem to be based on employment here.   I think I have no option but to return to the UK, It just seems sad that I will have to leave my husband behind, although, at least I am lucky that I have family that can support me.  I wish I had been given the correct information before moving here by my local DWP dept. Even now when I have telephoned I am still told that the Netherlands has an agreement with the UK. Thanks for the replies.  

Hi, I am actually living in the Netherlands. I had to leave the UK suddenly in 2002 and didn't have time to apply or wait for my  DLA award outcome. I was told that the Netherlands had an agreement with the UK, although on arrival here found that there were no benefits available. I could claim if I became disabled here if I had been working and that would be through my employer, but I had become disabled before I came here. I was wondering if from what is read in the legislation the new ruling will allow people with a disability who were not previously in receipt of DLA able to apply?  I assumed that people who were in receipt of DLA before 2002 would still be in receipt of it? if others move from the UK they will also be able to keep their DLA. Unfortunately what happens to the people who are stuck in those middle 5 years? we simply get no help at all, just seems very unfair. I'm literally stuck in my house every day staring at 4 walls. Things are so bad that I'm considering  returning to the UK to stay with family as my quality of life is no fun at all here.