With an increasing focus in America on the ever growing entitlement society, we thought it might be useful to get some context of how the welfare states stack up across Europe. As Britain prepares to "test" immigrants in an effort to stymie "benefit tourists", The Telegraph's Ed Malnick [22], details what health care and child, unemployment and housing benefit a 30-year-old single EU migrant with a child but no job can access in each member state.
Via The Telegraph,
AUSTRIA
Health care Available immediately, but only if you pay “social insurance”
Child benefit Immediate payment of £89 per month
Unemployment benefit Only available to people who have paid social insurance
Housing benefit No equivalent scheme
BELGIUM
Health care Available after a year
Child benefit £115 a month, available immediately
Unemployment benefit Have to have previously worked in Belgium
Housing benefit No national scheme; amounts vary regionally.
BULGARIA
Health care Free emergency care immediately; other treatments only available if you pay social insurance
Child benefit Targeted schemes restricted to Bulgarian citizens
Unemployment benefit Minimum of nine months of working in the country required to qualify
Housing benefit Immediate monthly allowance buzt only if you have a local authority home already
CYPRUS
Health care Free, available immediately
Child benefit Immediate yearly payment of £444
Unemployment benefit Six months of work in Cyprus required to qualify
Housing benefit Immediately available, limited to £506 a month
CZECH REPUBLIC
Health care Available immediately but cash charges apply
Child benefit £23 a month available immediately
Unemployment benefit 12-month minimum qualifying period
Housing benefit Available immediately
DENMARK
Health care Free, available immediately
Child benefit Up to £161 a month available after 12 months
Unemployment benefit Minimum of one year’s work required to qualify
Housing benefit No equivalent scheme
ESTONIA
Health care Available immediately but cash payments required for some treatments
Child benefit £16 per month available immediately
Unemployment benefit £12.50 per week available immediately
Housing benefit No equivalent scheme
FINLAND
Health care Public health service charging flat-rate fees. Available immediately
Child benefit £88 per month available immediately
Unemployment benefit Basic weekly unemployment allowance available after two months
Housing benefit Up to 80 per cent of housing costs available immediately but system varies regionally
FRANCE
Health care Only available with a card proving entitlement, issued to residents
Child benefit Immediate payment, but only for parents with more than one child
Unemployment benefit Four-month qualifying period
Housing benefit Immediate; scheme based on house size and local factors
GERMANY
Health care Only available with a health insurance card
Child benefit £155 per month available immediately
Unemployment benefit Immediate means-tested allowance for jobseekers who have made "intensive efforts" to find work
Housing benefit Full amount of housing costs available immediately
GREECE
Health care 100 days of work required to qualify
Child benefit No equivalent scheme
Unemployment benefit Minimum of six months of work required to qualify
Housing benefit No equivalent scheme
HUNGARY
Health care Not immediately available
Child benefit £40.60 per month available immediately
Unemployment benefit Minimum qualifying period of 360 days
Housing benefit No equivalent scheme
IRELAND
Health care Free after living in Ireland for three consecutive years, but free immediately to UK citizens
Child benefit £110 per month available immediately
Unemployment benefit £160 per week available immediately
Housing benefit Immediate rent supplement providing short-term support
ITALY
Health care Free, available immediately
Child benefit No equivalent scheme
Unemployment benefit Qualifying period of three months
Housing benefit No national scheme; varies according to region
LATVIA
Health care Public health service with fees for GP and hospital visits, available immediately
Child benefit Immediate monthly payment of £9.30
Unemployment benefit One-year qualifying period
Housing benefit Varies locally
LITHUANIA
Health care Three months qualifying period but “urgent care” free immediately
Child benefit Immediate monthly payment of £24
Unemployment benefit 18-month qualifying period
Housing benefit No equivalent scheme
LUXEMBOURG
Health care Not available immediately, as insurance-based
Child benefit £157.10 per month available immediately
Unemployment benefit Minimum of six months of work required to qualify
Housing benefit Immediate rent allowance of up to £104.90
MALTA
Health care Free, available immediately
Child benefit Immediate payment; up to £81.55 a month
Unemployment benefit Immediate means-tested benefit of up to £16 per day
Housing benefit No equivalent scheme
POLAND
Health care Free, available immediately
Child benefit Immediate payment of up to £54 per month
Unemployment benefit Qualifying period of one year
Housing benefit No equivalent scheme
PORTUGAL
Health care Free, available immediately
Child benefit Monthly payment of up to £40
Unemployment benefit Qualifying period of 180 days
Housing benefit No equivalent scheme
ROMANIA
Health care six-month qualifying period, except for emergencies
Child benefit monthly payment of up to £20
Unemployment benefit minimum qualifying period of 12 months
Housing benefit no equivalent scheme
SLOVAKIA
Health care immediately available; nominal cash payment for treatments
Child benefit immediate monthly payment of £19
Unemployment benefit minimum two-year qualifying period
Housing benefit No equivalent scheme
SLOVENIA
Health care Available immediately but required to pay minimum of 10 per cent of some treatment costs
Child benefit Immediate payment of up to £97 per month
Unemployment benefit Minimum contribution of nine months
Housing benefit Only available if you already have social housing
SPAIN
Health care Only available with a card proving entitlement
Child benefit Immediate payment of up to £20 per month
Unemployment benefit Immediate payment available based on a variable proportion of average wages
Housing benefit No equivalent scheme
SWEDEN
Health care Available immediately; basic fees for care
Child benefit Immediate monthly payment of £101
Unemployment benefit Six-month qualifying period
Housing benefit Immediate monthly allowance of up to £125
HOLLAND
Health care only available with a certificate proving entitlement
Child benefit Immediate payment of £943 per year
Unemployment benefit Six-month qualifying period
Housing benefit Means tested, available immediately
UNITED KINGDOM
Health care Available immediately and free of charge under the National Health Service
Child benefit Paid immediately if the child is under 16, or 16 to 19 and in education or training, and the claimant has an individual income of less than £50,000. Amount is £20.30 a week for the eldest or only child, £13.40 per additional child
Unemployment benefit Immediate payment of £71.70 a week in Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) after proving you are actively seeking work. EU migrants have to pass the “right-to-reside” test to show they are “economically active”. The European Commission wants to abolish this test. There is also contribution-based additional JSA which is only available after working for at least two years.
Housing benefit Available immediately if you are on a low income, whether you are working or unemployed.
How much depends on individual circumstances, but amount cannot normally exceed £250 per week for a one-bedroom property, or up to £400 a week for four bedrooms or more