Benefits Britain Channel 5

No Hannaloisluke it's all lies ( sarcasm face) migrants don't receive benifits, I don't know where the programme makers found these people because they don't exist, nudge nudge wink wink.

I get very exasperated indeed by these programmes as I spent a large chunk of my career fighting for benefits for those who were disabled or mentally ill. Such programmes simply raise the stigma of claimants and make life more difficult for them.

The vast majority of immigrants to this country, especially those from the EU are in productive employment and pay more in taxation than they draw in benefits.

That there are areas in the benefit system that could be tightened I would agree, but these stories of immigrants living off the state are like the stories about single mothers of ten living on benefits never having worked and demanding a bigger house and more money. Yes, these cases occur but they are few and far between.

No system that serves those in need can be so tightly controlled that no cheating ever occurs.

Migration Watch UK the UK pays child benefit and child credits to 50,000 children who live in another EU country.The cost to the tax payer is over 1 million a week.

If someone is working abroad but has left children in their home country, the children are still eligible for child benefit from the country in which they work - they are still dependents. If someone from the UK works in another EU country, that country will pay benefit to a child still in the UK. Exporting child benefit

"Last November, David Cameron proposed an end to the practice of ‘exporting’ child benefit to families in other EU countries.

Under existing EU rules, the country where a person works and pays taxes is responsible for paying her family benefits, no matter where in the EU her children live.

These cross-border child benefit payments have become politically controversial.

Why is child benefit paid for children living in other EU countries?

The idea of exporting benefits is based on a principle of non-discrimination.

A rule that children should have to live in the country where family benefits are paid would indirectly discriminate against migrant workers, who are more likely to have family members in another country.

That’s banned by the EU treaties.

The proposed EU deal involves continuing with the exportation of family benefits, but changing the amount paid.

Governments will be able to adjust the payment based on the standard of living in the country where the child lives, and the level of child benefit paid in that country.

Existing claims won't be affected for now, only new ones. But from 1 January 2020, countries can adjust existing payments as well.

Exporting child benefit

If the parent is paying tax, then THEY are a taxpayer!

If the Romanian self-employed scrap dealer is paying tax then HE is a tax-payer - and if he is not then HMRC will be on to him after that programme. Is Romanian child benefit at the same level as in the UK? If it is not, David Cameron's proposed deal would set the level to be the same as they would get at home.

If his pals tell fibs about their family to get what they are not entitled to, they will be in trouble - plus, they do need to be working and paying tax here, not just turning up in hope.

These programmes only want to feature extremes or more sensational cases otherwise they would just be a boring procession of ordinary people doing ordinary things. That's why I avoid watching such sensationalist 'Entertainment'!

Do you think it is a coincidence that this particular programme with its emphasis on migrants claiming benefits was broadcast this week?

For many years Channel 5 was owned by Richard Desmond, proprietor of the most europhobic paper in Britain, The Express. I believe it is now owned by an American company but who knows what their political agenda might be?

The truth is that migrants from EU countries contribute far more to our economy than they take out, but that message does not suit the makers of programmes like this.

I suspect the programme was made ages ago. We're just being paranoid?

Migrants pay more in tax than they withdraw as benefits.So the £1 million paid each week in child benefit is paid for out of the considerably more paid in tax each week by fellow migrants.

I am among those who believe that nobody in this country should be able to claim any tax benfits for depndents who are not resident in the UK.

If you are a British pensioner and you move to another country to live you are still entitled to your (contributory) state pension but can no longer claim either pension credit or, I think, Attendance Allowance or other disability benefit and for pensioners in a few countries you are not even entitled to any increase in your state pension after you leave this country. Rules that apply to long term UK residents when they leave the country should apply across the board.