Britain is still paying child benefit for 34,000 children living in other EU countries, despite calls from all major political parties to end the practice. The payments, which cost taxpayers up to £30 million annually, are required under EU rules and cannot be stopped without agreement from all 27 other member states.
New figures obtained by MailOnline show that two-thirds of the claims are for children in Poland, with 20,660 families receiving benefits for 34,199 children living outside the UK. The benefit is paid at £20.30 per week for the first child and £13.40 for subsequent children, regardless of parental income.
David Cameron is expected to discuss the issue with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during her visit to London tomorrow. The Prime Minister has made renegotiating EU benefits rules a key demand in his plans to reform Britain's EU membership. However, any change requires treaty amendments, which are unlikely before the promised in-out referendum in 2017.
Claims from Romania and Bulgaria have risen sharply since work restrictions were lifted in 2014. In September 2014, there were 236 claims for 404 children from Romania, up from 75 claims in 2010. Bulgarian claims rose to 213 for 279 children, compared to 79 claims four years earlier.
Labour's shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves said the party would work with European countries to end the 'absurdity' of exporting child benefit. Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg also called the practice 'absurd' but acknowledged that treaty changes are needed to stop it.
