Paid out on a four weekly basis to everyone who has children in the UK, child benefit is a handy payment to receive if you move to Turkey with children. If you qualify you could receive around 180 Turkish Lira a month for only one child, which would go some way to paying for food, rent or petrol, however, being a UK citizen does not mean you automatically qualify for this benefit if you leave the UK to set up permanent residence in Turkey; Quest Turkey takes a look at what your benefit rights are.
Qualifying for Child Benefit
Any parent, guardian or carer in the UK who is responsible for bringing up a child qualifies for the tax-free regular payment of Child Benefit. It does not matter what savings or income you have- this is a benefit available equally across the whole population regardless of need or status. The qualifying criteria is that the child must be under 16 years of age or under 19 if they are studying in full-time education or are participating in an approved training programme. Young adults aged 16 or 17 who have registered for work or training with the Careers or Connexions Service on leaving full-time further education or an approved training scheme also qualify. Another point to note is that you do not have to be the child’s parent to get the benefit; it is paid to anyone who can prove that they are caring for the child by providing a home, clothing and food.
The Current Value
Payments for your eldest child amount to GBP 80.00 for a four week period (just over 180 Lira), with additional payments of GBP 53.20 (128 Lira) for every child thereafter and the money is paid directly into your UK bank account every month.
Qualifying from Turkey
You may still be entitled to claim Child Benefit even if you move out to Turkey, but your entitlement depends on whether your stay here is temporary or permanent.
By law, you have to notify the Child Benefit Office and inform then of a change in your circumstances. You can contact them in a variety of ways - either online, by calling their helpline number 0845 302 1444 or texting their textphone on 0845 302 1474. Calls are dealt with between 8.00 am to 8.00 pm seven days a week. If you intend to spend no more than eight weeks in Turkey you can carry on claiming your benefit and do not need to inform the office of your temporary period of absence. Likewise, if you expect to be out of the UK for less than 52 weeks this is also deemed s a 'temporary absence' and you can still continue to claim. Temporary absence of course assumes that you still have a permanent UK address for correspondence; it is worth noting that if any mail is returned to the Child Benefit office your benefits will stop automatically.
Civil Servants and Armed Forces
Special rules apply if you or your partner work abroad as a UK civil servant or a member HM Armed Forces and you are working in Turkey for the UK Government. If you fall into this category and were posted to Turkey, whilst living in the UK, you can also claim Child Benefit. Your child does not have to live with you abroad in this instance.
Permanent Moves
If your move is permanent or at least longer than 52 weeks you will not qualify for Child Benefit even if you continue paying UK National Insurance contributions. The reason for this is that Turkey is not a member of the European Economic Community (EEA). If your child stays in the UK and is being looked after by someone else, that person can claim the Child Benefit allowance to cover the cost of caring for your child.
Special rules apply if you are sent to work on Turkey for a period of no more than three years by a UK employer. Providing you and your employer continue to pay UK Class 1 National Insurance contributions on your salary you will be able to claim Child Benefit.
A Child Abroad
If your child goes to Turkey but you do not, you may still claim benefit if their stay is classed as a temporary period of absence, which generally means less than 12 weeks. If your child is temporarily in Turkey for more than 12 weeks, you may still get Child Benefit providing they are there to receive full time non advanced education or to make an educational or foreign visit that is approved in writing by their UK school or to get medical treatment for an illness that began before they left the UK.
Make sure you check out your benefit entitlement to ensure that your individual situation to complies with the law. For further information check out these government websites at www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/index.htm or www.direct.gov.uk
