Wising UP! Online » The Law

Working Abroad – DON’T COME A CROPPER!

admin — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 17:13:15 +0000

With the continually shifting sands of State pension regulations, both in the UK and Spain, it is no wonder that many individuals find it difficult to know what they will be entitled to as retirement looms.

To provide as much advice and information as possible to expatriates in Spain, the British Consulate is attempting to disseminate the facts via its department based at the Consulate in Alicante. In their efforts to support British nationals here in Spain, the Pensions, Benefits and Healthcare Team members are passing on information via talks to interested organisations, leaflets and the internet.

Their key message is contained in a new slogan ‘Don’t come a cropper’ which Laura Leman from the Consulate explained in a visit to the Marina Alta Business Club (MABC) in Javea.

Basic, but very important advice is held within their mnemonic –

C – Call us – don’t leave it too late

R – Rights and Entitlements – find out

O – Official sources – use them

P – Plan and prepare for the future

P – Padron – register

E - Engage and integrate with Spanish people

R - Responsibility – inform authorities if circumstances change

As members and guests of Marina Alta Business Club in Javea, Spain were provided with a very informative and interesting talk, there were many surprises in store as Laura set out the facts for claiming pensions, unemployment benefit and accessing healthcare.

For example, Laura informed her audience that contributions paid in any EU country can be added together to increase entitlement, and that applications for pension must be made in writing to the country where the employee last worked.

The Pension Reform Act in the UK, as well as changes in Spain, have resulted in an increase in pensionable age and with the UK also reducing the number of qualifying years for a full pension, it is difficult for individuals to know exactly where they stand.

Further information about accessing healthcare, applying for unemployment and other benefits, is available by contacting the Pensions, Benefits and Healthcare Team at the British Consulate in Alicante via the website www.ukinspain.fco.gov.uk. Laura can be contacted by email at laura-leeman@fco.gov.uk and there are lots of other websites available providing relevant information on these topics, some of which are listed below.

www.ukinspain.fco.gov.uk – very informative website on many subjects

www.seg-social.es – Social Services website available in English for Spanish pension and benefit entitlement

www.direct.gov.uk – all UK public services

www.dwp.gov.uk – International Pension Centre and UK Pension and Benefit enquiries

www.hmrc.gov.uk – Pension forecast; Voluntary Contributions

www.dh.gov.uk – Overseas Healthcare Team

www.redtrabaja.es – (in Spanish only) – provides information on all unemployment benefits

Article by Chris Sinclair – reproduced by kind permission from her excellent article in the RTN – member of Marina Alta Business Club

Our thanks to Laura Leeman from the British Consulate in Alicante who made the excellent presentation to members and guests on March 3rd. The meeting was held at Peri Pera in Javea Port and was open to members and friends of the Club. As you can tell from Chris’s Article it was an interesting evening with a lot of information on pensions and accessing them from Spain.

Marina Alta Business Club was pleased to have such a good turn out and the evening was so successful it over-ran

Collaborative Law – The New and Dignified approach to Divorce

admin — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:38:06 +0000

Lyn Brisley, a family law specialist at Buckles Solicitors LLP, explains this new approach to divorce that has arrived from across the Atlantic in the USA.

Most people appreciate that pursuing a divorce can be a stressful and bitter experience. Dividing assets and sorting out the arrangements for children, can generate unpalatable litigation which is expensive and undignified.

The collaborative law process provides a fresh approach to divorce and is designed to promote agreement between husband and wife on varying issues, for example, how the assets should be divided and how arrangements for the children should be organised. This is all done without the stress of going to Court.

Collaborative law should be suitable for the majority of couples where there is some disagreement regarding a whole host of arrangements pursuant to the breakdown of the marriage, but where there is nevertheless a willingness to try and reach an agreement.

Where there is a genuine desire to find a solution as well as a willingness to be open and honest, couples sign up to a contractually binding agreement, ensuring that neither of them litigates through the Court. The “Participation Agreement” is signed by the acting solicitors and clients alike at the first “four way meeting” between the clients and their solicitors. The Participation Agreement explains all the process involved.

The solicitors and their clients attend a series of “four way meetings” where they meet up to discuss a variety of issues. Agendas are set, full and frank information is shared which paves the way for structured discussion.

The beauty of collaborative law is that it deals with difficult matters in a non-confrontational, non-litigious manner. The parties themselves remain in control of what is important to them and are free to openly negotiate with the assistance of their solicitors around the table. All those involved, solicitors and clients alike, are encouraged to keep an open mind and facilitate discussion for both sides, while providing sound legal advice for their client en-route.

With Collaborative Law, an air of dignity is maintained, and more often than not a working relationship with ones ex-spouse is maintained which is particularly beneficial for the children if relevant. Constructive solutions to personal difficulties can be proffered by either solicitor involved, as the lawyers do not partake in a “head to head” or entrenched conduct.

Collaborative law is growing in popularity here in Peterborough, and more and more solicitors are being trained and are committed to this approach. It is understood that just over 1,000 lawyers nationally are accredited with this expertise. This is a client and solution based process.

For more information on this story or any other family legal matter, please contact Lyn Brisley at the Peterborough office of Buckles Solicitors LLP on 01733 888841 or email at lyn.brisley@buckles-law.co.uk

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£6 tax for broadband ‘will be law’

Sidney — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:46:30 +0000

Moves to push a 50p a month broadband tax through Parliament before the general election sparked fury last night.

Stephen Timms, Treasury minister in charge of the Digital Britain plan, yesterday revealed he will introduce the law in the next Finance Bill.

Mr Timms said: “It is vital for jobs and growth that Britain has a world-class digital infrastructure.”

The £6-a-year levy on fixed phone lines – generating up to £175million annually – will subsidise next generation broadband networks in areas where they would not otherwise be viable.

But Jeremy Hunt, shadow culture secretary, said: “Slapping on a broadband tax is an old economy solution to a new economy problem.”

And Steve Weller, from uSwitch.com, said: “We are dismayed. If the Government truly intends to tax home phone users to fund the universal roll-out of broadband, this is a classic case of robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

Article from Daily Mirror – By Allison Martin 24/09/2009

Do you use rental cars in your business?

ggp — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:18:01 +0000

Avis Duty of Care White Paper

FACT: 200 drivers are killed or injured each week whilst travelling on company business

That’s a chilling figure, but the law of averages says that many of these drivers will be working for SMEs simply because they employ more people than any other sector of UK corporate business.

Research has consistently shown it is the SME sector which is least aware of the responsibilities facing employers around their driver’s safety and for that reason puts them most at risk of prosecution, if an employee is involved in, or causes a major accident whilst driving on company business.

SMEs, just like large corporate companies are expected to adopt a road safety policy, even if they only have a few employees driving on company business to ensure they protect themselves against possible prosecution.

The latest Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate homicide Act 2007 legislation was introduced to ensure companies focus on their employee safety and a jail sentence is possible if directors haven’t done everything possible to manage their driver’s safety.

Avis has researched all the key aspects that an SME should consider when developing its own Road Risk policy all in a single document. It is full of well rounded advice for SMEs to help them begin their own policy and ensure they meet their Duty of Care obligations.

Avis has also put into perspective how daily rental can help an employer when providing an employee with a car from a day to a period of a few months.

Avis has split its advice into four major areas:

What is Duty of Care?
The Legal Element
The Human Element
The Vehicle Element
The role of Daily Rental

Go To the following website to read more of this worrying report

http://www.avis.co.uk/BusinessServices/Avis-Business-Solutions/Avis-Business-Articles/Duty-of-Care