Just my opinion

Perhaps someone can correct me if I'm wrong but any visa obtained for immigration, whether it be a work visa, asylum (anything apart from permanent residence) specifies you can't receive public funds.

Asylum seekers are entitled to some limited benefits, such as housing and council tax, as their immigration status does not allow them to work.  But ANYONE whose visa states that they have no recourse to public funds - that includes work permit holders, HSMP, and international students - is prohibited from accessing them.

As with any system, however, there are a small minority (again the only ones I heard of were international students) who apply for and claim benefits.   

And I'm sure if the government let Mexicans who aren't citizens be on welfare, they would make such a stink about it.

If you are talking about the US gov't here, you do not have to be a US citizen to get benefits.

I agree with you. I'm American and I don't see why we should get special rules. I don't think they should have access to any public funds, that's for citizens. And I'm sure if the government let Mexicans who aren't citizens be on welfare, they would make such a stink about it.

I'm American as well.  In fact, I'm the grandchild of Mexican immigrants.  And I find your comment incredibly racist and offensive.  I'm actually quite gobsmacked. 

And btw, this post is about public funds in the UK. 

I'm American as well.  In fact, I'm the grandchild of Mexican immigrants.  And I find your comment incredibly racist and offensive.  I'm actually quite gobsmacked. 

And btw, this post is about public funds in the UK.



How is that racist and offensive? The fact is, if the government gave not only illegal Mexicans money, a hell of alot of the country would be angry. And I'm making an example of how alot of Americans would react if the government gave money to non citizens, yet some expect to be able to get all kinds of money.

How is that racist and offensive? The fact is, if the government gave not only illegal Mexicans money, a hell of alot of the country would be angry. And I'm making an example of how alot of Americans would react if the government gave money to non citizens, yet some expect to be able to get all kinds of money.

B/c it stereotypically assumes all Hispanic immigrants to the US are Mexicans.  Do you consider all Asians 'Chinese', too?  It's also untrue to assume all Americans would be angry if 'the government' gave money to non-citizens.  It already does.  It gives billions of dollars in foreign aid every year.  And personally, I'd rather my tax money went to help out homeless, starving, and possibly ill people than to line the pockets of some fat cats.

Believe it or not, the vast majority of immigrants, both to the UK and the US, don't ever claim benefits. 

But honestly, I don't care what the US government gives to whom.  I don't live there a/more and I don't make enough to pay US taxes. 

The OP posted about an issue pertinent to Americans immigrating to the UK. 

Okay, this WAS about public funds.

I was really thinking in terms of less scrutiny, in the same way  a gate agent might bump you up to business class if you are dressed well, but don't even think about it in jeans and flip flops.

But I have been looking into teaching in the UK and it floored me that they PAY you to train. I don;t think we have anything like that over here, do we?

What do you guys think about the whole idea of benefits, especially for things like having a child or having depression? They seem to have a safety net for everything, where we only have very limited help, I think.

For the record, I think that America has a very harsh view of it's neighbours, and I like the fact that the UK believes in taking care of each other. I have always believed that I AM my brother's keeper. I like that they walk their talk.
It is just a little out of my mindset to expect the government to owe me a living in any way shape or form.
I don't think that non citizens should be able to get benefits, either. ( I couldn't possibly be elegible anyway.)  I respect the UK very much, so much that since my first visit at 15, I have wanted to live there. I have no intention of ever coming back for anything but a visit, and plan on applying for full citizenship asap.

Okay, this WAS about public funds.

What do you guys think about the whole idea of benefits, especially for things like having a child or having depression? They seem to have a safety net for everything, where we only have very limited help, I think.

Child benefit is not enough to support a child.  It's only about 10-15 pounds a week. 
And I think it's not accurate really to say you can get benefit for having depression.  It would be an incapacity benefit.  They don't hand it out to everyone who's depressed.  And I don't think it's all that easy to get.   

For the record, I think that America has a very harsh view of it's neighbours, and I like the fact that the UK believes in taking care of each other. I have always believed that I AM my brother's keeper. I like that they walk their talk.

I agree with you, abercroft, but I've found a stigma in both countries. It seems like people who need public funds in either the US or UK are looked upon as "lazy" or "cheaters" by a lot of their fellow countrymen and women. That's a sad thing.

Asylum seekers are entitled to some limited benefits, such as housing and council tax, as their immigration status does not allow them to work. 

Just to clarify:

You're right that asylum seekers can't work - until (if) they get refugee or humanitarian status - but they are not entitled to mainstream state benefits such as income support or housing benefit.

If the Home Office accepts that an asylum seeker is "destitute", they'll give him a weekly cash payment which equates to 70% of income support.

And just to clarify further, that the government is obliged to provide asylum seekers with a means of survival in terms of the 1953 Convention on the Status of Refugees.