Returning to UK
Recent casework of Help has again reminded us of the advice given by the British Consulate in Alicante regarding British citizens resident in Spain returning to the UK because they have increased care needs or financial problems. These people normally are required to fund themselves for the first three months on return to the UK as they will only be entitled to social services help,such as free residential care or housing benefit or council housing after a period of three months back in the UK. This is known as the Habitual Residency Test. Even people who are quite disabled such as being confined to a wheelchair or needing kidney dialysis have found themselves homeless on returning to the UK. However hospital care if needed is available from day one of return, but should be arranged in advance. For further information contact the British Consul in Alicante on 965 216 022
British Consulate Meeting with English Speaking Charities 7th March 2019
The British consul recommends that all UK nationals living in Spain keep themselves up to date about how Brexit concerns their life in Spain by regularly following gov.uk/living-in-spain, which is constantly kept up to date by embassy staff in Madrid.
They also advised us that they can help in situations of domestic abuse. You can call them on (0034) 965 21 60 22
Also in emergencies call the police on 112 they should have English speaking operators. There is a Spanish freephone helpline 016. See their leaflet for more contact details in the menu section of our Facebook page.
LAUNCH OF NEW WEBSITE HELPBENIDORM.ORG
After much preparation and help from our old editor Pauline and Geoff the treasurer we have managed to launch the new website. Please note that it has a different address form the old one which is www.help-benidorm.com. This may prove a bit of a problem as the old name is still on printed material cards, leaflets etc.
The old site will stay around for a year with directions to the new site so people con get used to it. Any comments. Please leave them on the new site or on Facebook. We are always appreciative of polite suggestions to alter or add items.
If you know of any other organisation we could add to our Directory please let us know. We had to change the section from Links in the old site to directory, as the new page has a Google translate button so the webpage can instantly be seen in Spanish or other languages but it translated links to campo de golf.
A big thanks to Pauline for all her hard work editing the old website from England and her input in setting up this one. Kevin Website and Facebook administrator.