Like in the UK (I think) I have been claiming child benefit as my wife's immigration status has precluded that. This has been ongoing since my daughter was born and amounted to approximately £80 per month. As of recently the government have asked us to re apply for Child Benefit. Which we did. However on this occasion she had to declare, on my application form, her N.I. Number. Now, she applied for an N.I. Number before she fell pregnant, as although she was looking for work she hadn't got a job. But this didn't affect my original application for child benefit, just this reapplication. So. We have had to go in and get her an N.I. Number today so that I can apply for the said benefit. What a faff. It was a 12 page document and they wanted to know which flights she flew (which airlines) when she first arrrived in the UK and Isle of Man. I asked if they wanted to know what the menu was on the flight. Anyhow, its done now. Hopefully we will get the benefit paid as before.
Visits to these places usually throw up something interesting. And on this occasion I noticed two eastern europeans applying for a N.I. Number. They wouldn't allow them one till their work permit was granted. So whilst they were allowed to travel into and out of the Isle of Man, they were not allowed to work or get an NI number till they had their work permit applications accepted. Quite a good system. And no way impinges on Filipina spouses or fiances coming into the Isle of Man. Which goes to show that you can have a firm immigration policy, with permits, and still allow family into the country. These guys will not have been able to draw benefit either.
