United Kingdom

Living and Working in the United Kingdom

INTRODUCTION

The United Kingdom is a full member of the European Union (EU) and forms part of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the twenty-five EU Member States plus Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland. The population is approximately 60 million and the capital is London.

Language
The official language of the United Kingdom is English and the ability to speak and write it is an important requirement for jobseekers. Welsh is also spoken in parts of Wales and some jobs require you to be able to speak this as well as English.

Currency
The unit of currency in the UK is the pound sterling.

Time
Local time in the United Kingdom is GMT/BST. This is 1 hour behind most EEA countries.

International dialling code
UK to elsewhere 00 followed by the country code, area
code and number.

Elsewhere to the UK 00 44 - followed by the area code
(minus the first “0”) and number.

Emergency Services
The Emergency number is 999 for fire, police and ambulance services.These calls are free.

EEA nationals have the right to live and work in the United Kingdom without a work permit. EEA nationals working in the United Kingdom have the same rights as British nationals with regard to pay, working conditions, and access to housing, vocational training, social security and trade union membership. Families and immediate dependants are entitled to join them and have similar rights. Please note that this does not apply to the Isle of Man or the Channel Isles where work and other permits will be necessary.

For more information on moving to the United Kingdom contact the British Embassy in your own country.

IMMIGRATION AND RGISTRATION DOCUMENTS

To work in the United Kingdom a full ten-year EEA passport is essential. EEA citizens are free to enter the United Kingdom for up to three months to look for work or to try to set themselves up in business.

However a work permit is required for the Isle of Man and Alderney in the Channel Islands. For details about your employment rights in the other Channel Islands contact either:

The Controller of Employment and Social Security
PO Box 55
La Motte Street
St Helier
Jersey
JE4 8PE
Tel: 01534 280 000

Guernsey Social Security Authority
Edward T Weadon House
Le Truchot
St Peter Port
Guernsey
GY1 3WH
Tel: 01481 732 502
Email: mailto:enquiries@gssa.gov.gg

For the Isle of Man contact:

Isle of Man Jobcentre
Division House
31 Prospect Hill
Douglas
Isle of Man
IM1 1PJ
Tel: 01624 685 680
Website: www.gov.im/dti/jobcentre

Residence Permits
Application forms (ECC1) and further information can be obtained from:

Immigration and Nationality Directorate
Lunar House
40 Wellesley Road
Croydon
CR9 2BY
Tel: 0870 606 7766

HEALTH

A reciprocal agreement between Member States enables you to get urgent medical treatment free in the United Kingdom. In order to claim this entitlement, you will need to have a completed E111 form.

As of 2005, a separate E111 is now required for all members of your family. E111s will cease to be valid throughout the EEA and Switzerland from 1 January 2006, when they will be replaced by the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

For further details please consult the Department of Health website:
www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/
International/OverseasVisitors/fs/en/

Doctors and Dentists
You should apply to your local health centre to be registered with a National Health Service (NHS) doctor. Note that some NHS doctors also practise privately so ensure that you are treated as a NHS patient or you may have to pay the full cost of the treatment.

You will need to register with a dentist in the UK. Please note that most are private and you will be charged for treatment.

Prescriptions
In the UK there are charges for prescribed medicines, dental services, eye test and spectacles. However, if you are on a low income or already receiving other state benefits you may be able to get help with the cost of these items. For further information contact your local Jobcentre Plus office or social security office.

Transferring Sickness Benefit.
If you are in receipt of Sickness Benefit in your own country, you may be able to transfer payment to the United Kingdom. Ask at your local employment service office for further information.

Further information is also given in the leaflet SA29 'Your Social Security, Insurance, Benefits and Health Care Rights in the European Economic Area '.

Further information
For further information on your health rights while in the UK contact:

Department of Health
Primary Care Branch
Room 7E04
Quarry House
Quarry Hill
Leeds
LS2 7UE
Tel: 0113 254 5834
Website: www.dh.gov.uk/

SOCIAL SECURITY

Your social security rights in the United Kingdom are the same as those that apply elsewhere within the EEA. When you start work in the United Kingdom, you will contribute to the British social security system and consequently, gain the right to benefits.

If you are an EEA citizen you should obtain certificate E301 from your social security department before you come to the UK. This will show the amount of social security insurance you have paid in your home country. Once in the UK, you should take this certificate to your local Jobcentre Plus office, Jobcentre or social security office in order to make a claim for social security benefits.

Social security benefits cover unemployment, illness, invalidity, work accidents, work related illnesses, maternity, widowhood and pensions. Contact your local Jobcentre Plus office or jobcentre for further details.

Further information is given in the leaflet SA29 'Your Social Security, Insurance, Benefits and Health Care Rights in the European Economic Area'.

Transferring Unemployment Benefit
If you are entitled to unemployment benefit and have normally been claiming this for at least four weeks in your own country, you may continue to receive it for up to three months in the United Kingdom, while you actively seek work here. You must obtain form E303 before you leave. This form, which secures the payment of your unemployment benefit in the United Kingdom, should be taken to your nearest Jobcentre/Jobcentre Plus as soon as possible after your arrival in the United Kingdom. For more details contact the employment service in your own country or once you have arrived in the UK, please contact:

JBES (Jobseekers Benefit Overseas Section) Tel: 0191 218 7652
Fax: 0191 218 7147

Pensions
Under EEA regulations, if you work in two or more EEA countries you can combine state pension contributions paid in each state in order to qualify for a state pension. For more details contact the employment service in your own country or once you have arrived in the UK, please contact:

Centre for Non Residents helpline: Tel: 0845 915 4811
Fax: 0845 915 7800

TAXATION

When living or working abroad, where you pay tax depends on a number of factors. The main factor is whether you are resident in your own country or not during a particular tax year. Residence is defined as spending more than 183 days a year in your own country or visiting your own country for 91 days a year or more on average over a four-year period.

However tax is payable on UK earned income for those who are not resident in the UK. Double taxation agreements are in force between the UK and over 100 countries across the world to prevent the risk of double taxation where income could be taxable in two countries. Further information is available from HM Revenue & Customs.

HM Revenue & Customs Centre for non-Residents
PO Box 46
Fitz Roy House
Nottingham NG2 1BD
Tel: 0845 070 0040
Tel: 00 44 151 210 2222 (from outside the UK)
Website: www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/index.htm

Income Tax
Income tax is levied on the following: salary, bonuses, other income earned in the UK (e.g. profit, rent, interest, dividends, annuities and pensions) use of car, medical/life assurance paid by employer, etc. After allowances, income tax is charged at rates of 10 %, 22% or 40%. Income tax is levied in the UK at three rates:

Starting Rate (10%) Ł0 - Ł 2,020 (2004/2005 figures)
Basic Rate (22%) Ł 2,021 - Ł 31,400 (2004/2005 figures)
Higher Rate (40%) over Ł 31,400 (2004/2005 figures)

A personal allowance of Ł4,745 is allowable before any tax is paid

Value Added Tax (VAT)
This is a tax on expenditure; it is levied at a standard rate of 17.5 %. VAT is not payable on certain goods and services such as rent and children's clothing.

Council Tax
This is a local taxation to pay for the public services in your area. It is assessed on the value of your property. The Local Authority administers collection of this tax. Contact your Local Authority for further information.

National Insurance Contributions

National insurance contributions are deducted from your wages providing:

You are over age 16;
You are under state retirement age and
Your earnings are above the Lower Earnings Limit (the Lower Earnings Limit for 2004/2005 is Ł79 per week).

Every employee eligible to pay National Insurance contributions is issued with a National Insurance number (NINO). Your employer will arrange this for you and will calculate the amount of National Insurance deducted from your salary. The amount payable is calculated on the amount of gross pay (i.e. pay before tax) an employee receives.

More information on tax and National Insurance allowances can be found at the HM Revenue & Customs website at www.hmrc.gov.uk/rates/

EMPLOYMENT ISSUES

The employment protection in your country’s legislation does not extend to work wholly or mainly outside your own country. The terms and conditions of employment are a matter of agreement between the employer and yourself.

Contracts
It is advisable, where possible, to obtain terms and conditions of employment in writing before you leave for the UK. If you are offered a contract, check carefully the terms and conditions of employment (including disciplinary procedures and performance conditions). Make sure you fully understand what is written in the contract before signing it. The employer may be able to provide you with a copy in English; otherwise you may need to seek help with translation. Check the method and frequency of your pay. Also ask about relocation expenses and accommodation arrangements and whether you will get help with costs and what conditions apply. You are likely to be paid directly into a bank so find out what documentation is needed to open an account as soon as possible – your own bank may be able to help.

Minimum Wage
There are three effective rates from October 2004. The young workers rate, applicable to 16 – 17 year olds, is Ł3.00 per hour. The development rate, applicable to workers aged 18 – 21, is Ł4.25 per hour (The development rate can also apply to workers aged 22 and above during their first 6 months in a new job with a new employer and who are receiving accredited training). The main (adult) rate is Ł5.05 per hour for workers aged 22 or over. These levels can only be affected by the provision of accommodation or accredited training. The main and development rates are planned to increase in October 2006 to Ł5.35 and Ł4.35 an hour respectively; the 16-17 year olds rate will remain at Ł3.30
For more information call the National Minimum Wage enquiry line on 0845 6000 678. Information is also available at www.direct.gov.uk/

Working Hours
The maximum weekly working hours in the UK are 48 (averaged over a 17 week period).

Holidays
The minimum holiday entitlement in the UK is 20 days. There are also generally recognized public holidays, although employers are not obliged by law to recognize these.

ACCOMMODATION

Renting Accommodation
Accommodation is often advertised in local newspapers but there are also many estate agencies and accommodation agencies that deal with rented accommodation. Shop windows are also used to advertise lodgings. Furnished and unfurnished homes can also be rented from private landlords and housing associations. Hotels and guesthouses provide short-term accommodation in most areas. An advance of one months rent plus a refundable bond for furnishings is usual. If you use an agency you can expect to pay an additional fee.

New lettings of rented accommodation are regulated by the Housing Act 1988 and are generally of two kinds: assured tenancies with long-term security of tenure, and assured short hold tenancies for a fixed period of at least six months.

Tenants in Britain have legally-protected rights. It is illegal for landlords to evict tenants from their home without a court order. Harassing tenants to make them leave is also a criminal offence. You should report any case of harassment or illegal eviction to the Local Authority, which has the power to prosecute. As well as lettings by private landlords, some houses and flats are also rented by non-profit making housing associations. They receive public subsidies, which help to keep their rents down to affordable levels. They also provide accommodation on a shared ownership basis, allowing the occupier to part-rent or part own a home.

Rents vary widely according to size and standard of accommodation and on a regional basis. Rents are highest in London and the South East.

Short-term accommodation includes Youth Hostels, YMCA/YWCA hostels, Bed and Breakfast places (B&B) and hotels. Local tourist offices will be able to provide information on all such accommodation; most will be able to make reservations on your behalf.

EDUCATION

For families moving to the United Kingdom, to continue your or your child’s education, there are two main possibilities. Firstly it is possible to study within the British system and the second option is to study at an international school, where it may be possible to follow either a UK or international curriculum.

The best source of additional information on all aspects of education in the United Kingdom is the European Commission PLOTEUS portal: www.europa.eu.int/ploteus. The PLOTEUS portal provides information about the educational system, learning opportunities as well as further contacts and background information about moving to the United Kingdom.

Pre-School
Every child aged four and over in the UK has the right to a free place in a state-run nursery school. Nursery provision for three-year-olds in the state sector is at the discretion of the Local Education Authority although this is likely to become national policy in the future. You will usually pay for places in voluntary or private pre-school establishments for children under three years old. Many children under the age of five attend state nursery schools or nursery classes attached to primary schools. Others may attend playgroups in the voluntary sector or in privately run nurseries. Some schools operate an early admission policy that admits children under five into “reception classes”. Attendance at all of the above is voluntary and may be on a full or part-time basis (e.g. from a few hours to five days a week).

Education
Most children attend state schools, where parents do not pay for their children’s places. Generally, children aged between five and ten attend primary schools, those between eleven and sixteen (and sometimes beyond) attend secondary schools. Primary schools generally accept both boy and girl pupils (co-educational). Most secondary schools are co-educational, but some are single-sex schools. There are very few state-maintained boarding schools; information and advice about those that do exist can be obtained from the State Boarding Information Service (STABIS) on www.sbsa.org.uk/.

Over the age of sixteen, education is not compulsory, but is available in some secondary schools or sixth form colleges (England and Wales only), tertiary colleges and colleges of further education.

Higher Education
Degrees, post graduate study and research, higher diplomas, higher certificates and a limited number of professional courses are offered in universities and colleges of higher education on a full time basis for students over the age of 18.

Students in Higher Education may receive grants, but are largely reliant on subsidised loans to cover both living expenses and fees. Students from other EEA countries are treated on the same basis as UK students. For further details contact:

Department for Education and Skills
Mowden Hall
Staindrop Road
Darlington
County Durham
DL3 9BG
Tel: 0870 000 2288
Email: info@dfes.gsi.gov.uk
Website: dfes.gov.uk

International Schools
It is also possible to study at private International Schools in the United Kingdom. These schools may follow an international curriculum or offer the European Baccalaureate. For details contact the European Council for International Schools:

ECIS
21 Lavant Street
Petersfield
Hampshire
GU32 3EL
Tel: 01730 268244
Website: www.ecis.org/

COMPORABILITY OF QUALIFICATIONS

Academic Qualifications
It is possible to obtain a direct comparison between your qualifications and those recognized in the United Kingdom from the National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) organizations. NARIC is an international network and is available in each Member State. For advice on the level at which your qualification fits into a Member State’s education system, contact the NARIC office in the Member State you are moving to. For more details visit: For more details visit: www.enic-naric.net/

The British NARIC is:

UK NARIC
Oriel House
Oriel Road
Cheltenham
GL50 1XP
Tel: 0870 990 4088
Website: www.naric.org.uk/
Email: info@naric.org.uk

Vocational Qualifications
The National Reference Point (NRP) is a network of centres across Europe that can help and advise you about the recognition of your qualifications. The UK National Reference Point for Vocational Qualifications is operated by NARIC and acts as a national agency in a European network of reference points for vocational qualifications in the EEA Member States. The UK Reference Point acts as a signpost to the other Reference Points across Europe for those wanting information about the validity of their UK qualifications in Europe. Further information is available from NARIC.

UK National Reference Point for Vocational Qualifications
Oriel House
Oriel Road
Cheltenham
Glos.
GL50 1XP
Tel: 01242 260225
Website: www.uknrp.org.uk/

Professional and Occupational Qualifications
To enable EU nationals to work in other Member States without having to re-qualify for professional or occupational qualifications, the General System for Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications was introduced. The system is operated by means of two European Directives, 89/48/EEC and 92/51/EEC. The directives cover between them all regulated professions and occupations.

To be eligible for assessment under Directive 89/48/EEC you must have successfully completed a post secondary course of at least three years duration, at a university or establishment of higher education. You must also have successfully completed any professional training required to enable you to practise the profession concerned.

Directive 92/51/EEC covers those professions regulated below degree level.

Website: www.dfes.gov.uk/europeopen

Certificates of Experience
Craftspeople wishing to exercise their trade in other Member States can apply to have their experience certificated under the UK Certificate of Experience scheme. British nationals who require a Certificate of Experience should contact the Department for Education and Skills at the address below for a guidance pack and application form:

Certificate of Experience Office
Department for Education and Skills
QfW2
E3B
Moorfoot
Sheffield
S1 4PQ
Tel: 0114 259 4997
Email: application.coe@dfes.gsi.gov.uk

Applicants will be charged a non-refundable processing charge of Ł105.

CHECKLIST

Before you take up employment ensure that:

You have a full passport;
You have a copy of the contract or terms and conditions of employment and you understand them fully;
You know the method and frequency of payment of salary;
You know what travel arrangements need to be made and whether you or the employer will pay;
You have accommodation in the area you will be moving to;
You have the appropriate ‘E’ form for medical expenses cover or have taken out private health insurance and
You have sufficient funds to last until you are paid, or to return home if necessary.

In addition it would be helpful and advisable to:

Make arrangements with people in your own country who can serve as references for potential employers in the United Kingdom;
Take out a travel insurance policy that covers luggage, accidents and personal liability;
Go to your local Employment Service office and find out what rules will apply if you visit the United Kingdom to look for work and
Become competent in English, or improve the competence you already have.

LEGAL MATTERS

Once in the United Kingdom you will be subject to the laws of the United Kingdom. In the event of any legal problems you should contact the Embassy or consulate of your country in the United Kingdom. These offices cannot offer legal advice but will know where appropriate advice can be obtained.

Polish Embassy (Ambasada Polska)

Embassy of the Republic of Poland

47 Portland Place

London WIB 1JH

Tel. 0870 774 2700

e-mail: polishembassy@polishembassy.org.uk

Consulate (konsulat)

Consulate General of the Republic of Poland

73 New Cavendish Street

London W1 6LS

Tel. 0870 774 2800

e-mail: konsulat@polishconsulate.co.uk

Federation of Poles in Great Britain (Federacja Polaków w Wielkiej Brytanii)

240 King Street

Hammersmith, London

W6 0RF

Tel. 020 8741 1606