Last updated: 8th September 2026

What is destitution?

Destitution means being in a situation where you cannot afford your basic needs like food, shelter, warmth and water. You might be facing destitution if you do not have enough money to pay your rent, to pay for food, to pay your bills, or to heat your home, or if you have nowhere to live. 

The word ‘destitute’ is sometimes used to describe a person who is experiencing destitution. On this page, we refer to ‘people experiencing destitution’ and ‘people who are made destitute’.

Destitution can happen to anybody, and it can happen for many different reasons. If you have migrated to the UK, many of these reasons could relate to your immigration status. This is because different types of immigration status have different conditions which affect which support and services you can access. These restrictions  mean that migrant communities are at higher risk of being made destitute.

Circumstances that might mean you are at a higher risk of destitution might include:

• If you are not allowed to work in the UK
• If you have been asked to leave your accommodation
• If your income is not enough to cover your living costs
• If there is a change in your circumstances e.g. you lose your job, or have a baby
• If you are responsible for other people (for their living costs or their care)
• If you have experienced exploitation or abuse

How your immigration status affects your rights in the UK 

To understand what your rights are, you need to understand what your immigration status is. Your immigration status means the legal permission you have (or do not have) to be in the UK. If you are in the UK with indefinite leave to remain, settled status or as a British Citizen, then there are no restrictions on your right to access most types of support, but you may need to prove other circumstances.

If you are in the UK on a temporary visa, or with leave to remain (a type of permission to be in the UK) then you can check whether there are any conditions attached to your immigration status. If you have claimed asylum and are waiting for a decision, then you will have access to specific types of support. 

If you don’t have any type of visa, your leave to remain has expired, or you have never applied for permission to be in the UK, then you have no leave to remain. People in this situation might hear the terms ‘overstayer’ or ‘undocumented migrant’ or be told they have no immigration status.

The conditions attached to different types of immigration status mean that there are certain people who are more likely to be at risk of destitution. This can include:

• people who have claimed asylum (especially when they have been refused).
• people with no recourse to public funds (this means that you cannot access certain kinds of financial help or housing support from the government or your local council. It is often shortened to NRPF) 
• people who are in the UK without leave to remain. There are many reasons why someone may be living in the UK without current permission. This can include difficulties caused by the immigration system or things that have happened in someone’s life.

Your rights can change at different stages of your case. You might be able to access different support after making an application, or getting a new decision, but you might also lose access to support.

Sometimes, you may have had the right to do certain things in the past, for example if you came to the UK on a visa as a student or worker, and then claimed asylum. You may still have access to a job, benefits, a home, a car or a bank account, or be receiving treatment for a medical condition. However, being able to continue accessing something does not mean that you are legally entitled to this.  This could cause you to face issues later on. For example: 

• Being told you have a debt to repay e.g. for medical treatment, or for benefits paid to you by mistake
• The Home Office deciding to stop your visa
• Facing criminal charges e.g. if you are found driving or working without the right to do so

It can be difficult to understand whether you are allowed to do something. If you are unsure, check your Home Office documents first. You might find this information in recent decision letters, or immigration bail documents. If it is still unclear, you can ask a trusted person to help you understand your documents or try and get legal advice from a lawyer. If you do not have copies of the documents you need, you can ask the Home Office for them. This is called making a Subject Access Request (SAR).

If you have claimed asylum

If you have claimed asylum, then you can normally ask the Home Office to give you somewhere to live and money to support yourself while you wait for a decision. This is called ‘asylum support’. The support you can get depends on your situation and what is happening with your case.

We know from our community that asylum support is often not enough. Some people struggle to afford basic items with the money they are given or have to rely on support from charities, friends, family, people in the community. This means that many people who receive asylum support may still be facing destitution.

If you make an application for asylum support, the Home Office will first check your financial circumstances. This means they will ask questions about whether you have any income or savings, and why you need asylum support. They can also check with the banks whether you have any accounts, and ask you for bank statements if you do. If you ask for support later in your claim, you might be asked to explain how you have been supporting yourself so far, and where you have been staying.

If your asylum claim is refused, you might have a right of appeal. You can continue to receive asylum support until you have no more appeal rights (we explain this more here). At this stage, you will lose your right to asylum support. You might be able to apply for asylum support again if you make further submissions, or if you ask the Home Office to return you to your country.

Some people might be able to keep getting asylum support, even if they have no more appeal rights.  For example, support can continue if your household includes a dependent child under 18. Other people may be able to get a different type of support, called Section 4 support, if they are destitute and meet certain conditions. This can include some situations where a health problem means they cannot leave the UK 

There are also circumstances where you may need to get extra support, such as extra payments or accommodation that meets particular needs. This might include:

• If you are pregnant
• If you have a baby or child aged 3 or under. 
• If you need to travel a long distance for medical treatment 
• If you have a health condition that causes extra essential costs e.g. if you need a special diet. 
• If you have a disability or health condition and need specific accommodation or equipment e.g. because of mobility or other medical needs
• If your accommodation is not safe for you or does not meet your important health or support needs. E.g. this could be risk from domestic abuse or harassment. 

We explain this further below, and you can read more about asylum support below and on our Asylum Support toolkit page here.

If you have ‘no recourse to public funds’

Public funds are certain types of financial help and housing support that are listed in immigration law. You will also hear them called ‘benefits’. 

Benefits are financial support provided by the government which can include money, vouchers, discounted bills and housing. Lots of benefits are public funds, but some are not. Check which benefits are public funds here.

If you have leave to remain in the UK, you might have a condition called ‘no recourse to public funds’. You should be able to check this on your evisa, and you can also check the decision letter for when your application was granted. If you have ‘no recourse to public funds’ (NRPF) then you will not be allowed to claim any public funds. 

NRPF is part of the hostile environment – a system of rules designed to make life more difficult for migrants who are in the UK without permission or with temporary status. The government says that restricting rights for certain migrants is necessary for immigration enforcement so that people do not enter the UK without permission, or stay in the UK without permission. They also say that these restrictions protect ‘taxpayer money’. In reality, these restrictions often leave people without enough money, housing or other support and increase risk of destitution. 

You might have a NRPF restriction if you are in the UK with leave to remain as:

• A partner
• A parent
• A student
• A worker
• A visitor

For many people, this condition means that they are trying to survive on a low wage, or with no income and cannot apply for support from the government to help cover their living costs. 

This can be difficult if your circumstances change without warning. For example if a relationship breaks down, if you lose your job, or if you become responsible for caring for a child or family member.

Some people will be able to request access to public funds if they are not able to afford their basic living costs, if they are responsible for a child, or if they have lost or could lose their housing. This is done by making an application called ‘change of conditions’.  Making this request can impact your immigration status, so it’s important to understand this before applying. 

If you are living in the UK without leave to remain

This section is about people who are living in the UK without leave to remain and who are not waiting for a decision on an asylum claim.

Many people live in the UK without leave to remain. This means they don’t have permission to live in the UK. This might be because their application was refused, because they have stayed past the expiry date of their visa or because they have never made an application to stay in the UK.

You might be told you can stay in the UK but you are on “immigration bail”. This means that you can live in the UK but with specific conditions, and that you could be detained by the Home Office. This usually means having to live at a specific address, and report to the Home Office, and sometimes harsher conditions like electronic tagging. 

If you do not have leave to remain, you will also have no recourse to public funds. You are  not allowed to work, rent accommodation, study, drive, or even open a bank account. You can also be stopped from accessing certain healthcare services, and can be charged for medical treatment. If you require emergency medical treatment, this should be provided but you can be charged afterwards.

These conditions can make it very difficult for you to afford your basic needs and keep yourself safe and healthy.

If you have no leave to remain, and no application waiting, it is important that you also understand your immigration options so that you have enough information to make decisions about your future. If you are in this situation, you are at greater risk of being detained and removed from the UK.

There are still things you can do to take actions to prepare and protect yourself. As communities, we can also take collective action by providing legal support to build solidarity and protect each other.

You might want to consider whether there is an asylum or immigration application you could make. If you are granted leave to remain, then you will be able to access more types of support, and if you make further submissions, then you will be able to ask for asylum support. We explain the different types of support more later on the page.

Immigration law and Home Office rules are very complicated and change often. You are not expected to understand everything on your own. Even lawyers and judges have said that immigration law can be very difficult to understand and keep up with. 

We know that reading this information can feel overwhelming, especially if you are dealing with a lot at the same time. You are not alone, and needing help does not mean you have done anything wrong. You can take things one step at a time and ask someone you trust to help you. 

The Right to Remain Toolkit contains lots of information about the immigration and asylum system, and preparing different types of applications. You can read through this in your own language, or with a trusted person who can help you think about useful steps you could take.

Safety Planning

The asylum and immigration systems are not safe. They are designed to be hostile, and the law is complicated. Learning about these systems through our toolkit can help you to understand your situation and your options. Sharing this information in our communities, and taking practical steps to support each other and build solidarity can help us prepare and organise for safer situations.

Surviving the hostile environment: rights and restrictions

If your asylum claim has been refused and you cannot appeal again, or if your visa has ended and you cannot afford an application fee, you no longer meet the immigration rules, or you did not know what to do or could not get legal advice, you may feel unsure about what to do next. 

You might have been told that the country you are from is safe, and that you can return there, even if you know that you would not be safe. 

You may have lived in the UK for a long time and have stronger connections here than in the country you came from. 

You might not be able to get evidence that you want to submit, or you might be frustrated by some of the reasons why your case was refused.

Understanding a refusal is important for knowing why you were refused and what information or evidence could be useful. 

Understanding the law can help you know how the Home Office will look at a new case and what information or evidence you need to provide. 

Many people in this situation may feel that they have no real choice but to stay in the UK, even if they have been told to leave. They may know that they could have no money or housing and they may not be able to work or get support.  Often people rely on their friends, family or their communities for support with a place to sleep, food, phone credit, toiletries, clothing and other everyday things we all need to live safely and with dignity while they think about their next steps.

The reality is that many people will also choose to work, or depend on arrangements in exchange for money, food, accommodation and other things they need to survive. For some people, this can look and feel like community support and collective safety. For others, it can involve pressure,  unfair treatment or unsafe situations. 

Understanding the risks you may face can help you make informed choices and think about how to keep yourself safe. This includes risks linked to living in the UK without leave to remain, or doing something that your immigration status does not allow. These situations are often created by immigration rules that restrict people’s access to work, housing and support, so the choices available to you may already be very limited. 

Exploitation

When people have very limited choices about how to get money, food, housing or other things they need, this can make them more vulnerable to unsafe or unfair situations. Someone else may treat you badly, pressure you to do things you do not want to do, take advantage of your situation, or control where you go and what you do.

If this is happening to you, then you might be experiencing exploitation. Exploitation happens when a person who is in a position of power abuses their power to control another person for their own benefit, for example to make money. Being exploited is not your fault, even if you agreed to the situation at first or felt you had no other option. 

Exploitation is not always visible or obvious. It can happen in many different relationships, work or living situations . It happens when someone makes you do something you don’t want to do, controls your activities or movement, or refuses to give you something that was agreed. This could include:

• Taking or keeping your passport, ID, bank card or phone
• Threatening to report you to the Home Office, police or another authority
• Stopping you from leaving, seeing other people or contacting friends and family
• Pressuring or forcing you to do work or other things you did not agree to
• Changing your pay, hours or conditions after you have already started
• Making you pay unfair or unexpected charges for accommodation, transport, food or work
• Threatening to make you homeless if you do not do what they say
• Controlling your money or taking money from your account
• Pressuring or forcing you into sexual activity
• Making you commit crimes or do things that could get you into trouble
• Making you work in unsafe conditions

If you do not have leave to remain, or if your immigration status is temporary or depends on your job, you may feel that you cannot leave a situation where you are being exploited. Your immigration status may also make it feel harder or less safe to report what is happening or ask for help. The immigration system can itself feel unsafe and uncertain. Being exploited is not your fault.

Visa Sponsorship

If you are in the UK on a work visa, your permission to stay may be linked to an employer that has agreed to sponsor you. This usually means the employer has been approved by the Home Office to employ migrant workers and has given you a Certificate of Sponsorship for your visa application.

Whilst many sponsors are genuine, there are some recruitment agencies that exploit migrant workers. This can include asking you to repay visa fees or sponsorship fees, or failing to give you enough hours or pay you as agreed. Sometimes employers will threaten to cancel your sponsorship if you complain or refuse to do what they tell you.

If you are worried about your sponsor or employer, this does not necessarily mean that you have no options. Depending on your situation, you may be able to find a new sponsor, make a different application to stay in the UK, or get advice about other steps you can take. Read more about this here.

Domestic abuse

If you are living in an abusive situation, then you might not have control of your own activities or finances. You might feel like you need to keep your job because someone is threatening you by controlling your income, or because you want to be able to leave the situation and support yourself independently. 

When this is done by a family member, it is called domestic abuse. There are support options available if you are in this situation, and your safety is the most important thing. We explain what you might be able to do if you are in this situation in our Key Guide for migrants affected by domestic abuse.

Modern Slavery and Trafficking

Sometimes, exploitation can be so severe that it becomes modern slavery or human trafficking under the law. 

Modern slavery includes situations where someone is forced, threatened, deceived or controlled in order to exploit them. This might include being forced to work, being sexually exploited, being made to commit crimes, or being prevented from leaving an exploitative situation. You do not have to be completely controlled by another person for your experience to be considered modern slavery.

Trafficking is a type of modern slavery. It involves someone being recruited, moved, transferred, housed or received so that they can be exploited. This could involve labour exploitation, sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation or other types of exploitation. 

There is a special system for identifying and supporting people who may have experienced modern slavery or trafficking. This is called the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). Depending on your circumstances and the stage of the process, support can include accommodation, financial support and help to access healthcare and other services. 

Adults must agree before they are referred into the NRM, and the referral must usually be made by an organisation that is allowed to make referrals, called a first responder organisation.

You can ask for help even if the exploitation happened a long time ago, and you do not need to be certain that what happened to you was modern slavery before asking for support.

If you think you may be experiencing modern slavery or trafficking now, you can speak to someone you trust or a specialist organisation about your options. If you are in immediate danger, you can call 999.

Immigration Enforcement

Immigration enforcement means all of the ways that the Home Office controls immigration. This can be tracking and controlling where someone lives or can go, telling someone to report, or through detention and removal. Enforcement also happens through the hostile environment, which is a system that restricts people’s rights based on their immigration status by pushing immigration checks into everyday life.

Enforcement visits and raids

If you are in the UK without leave to remain, then you are at higher risk of being targeted by Home Office enforcement because of your immigration status. 

Enforcement can happen in different situations and forms, including through immigration visits, checks and raids. This could be in a public space or on public transport, or in a targeted raid in a home, or a workplace.

If a visit or raid happens in a place where you are living, or working, then you could be questioned, and detained, but there are some rules about when and how this can happen. Immigration officers cannot just stop you and question you if they have no permission or clear reason to do so. We explain more about immigration enforcement and your rights in our Immigration Enforcement Key Guide.

If you have submitted an application to remain in the UK, then you should not be removed while this is being considered. This does not mean that you cannot be questioned or detained and you could still face criminal charges if you are breaking the law. This can include doing things you don’t have permission to do, for example working when you don’t have the right to work. Any criminal charge can affect your immigration or asylum case and be used as a reason to remove you from the UK, so it is important to understand and consider this.

How information is shared by some public services with the Home Office 

The UK’s hostile environment makes immigration control part of everyday life. Instead of immigration enforcement happening only through reporting, raids, detention or removal, checks on immigration status have been built into areas such as work, housing, healthcare, benefits and other public services.

This means people may be asked to prove their immigration status when trying to access things they need. In some situations, services can share information with the Home Office, and the Home Office can confirm things like whether someone has permission to be in the UK, whether they have a right to access a service, or whether there are restrictions on their immigration status.

Services that may share information with the Home Office include:

• hospitals and healthcare services
• local authorities, including children’s and adults’ social services
• landlords and employers, where they need to check a person’s right to rent or work
• Jobcentres, when checking entitlement to benefits or other support
• the police

These systems can make people feel watched, unsure about their rights, or scared to ask for help. They can also create barriers for people who do have a right to access a service.

But knowing that information sharing can happen does not mean that people should avoid services they need. In many situations, services can only ask for or share certain information for particular reasons.

Where possible, you can ask why information is being requested, whether it will be shared with the Home Office, and what information is actually needed. You can also take someone you trust with you, ask for an interpreter if you need one, and keep a record of what you were asked for and what happened.

If you need urgent medical attention or you are in danger, your safety and wellbeing comes first. Do not avoid emergency help because you are worried about information sharing.

The police can share your details with Immigration Enforcement. In some situations, police officers also have powers to arrest someone under immigration law. They cannot stop, question or arrest someone just because of assumptions about their nationality, ethnicity or immigration status.

Community organisations and specialist services may also be able to help you understand your rights, challenge unfair treatment and navigate these systems more safely.

Discrimination and feeling unsafe

Immigration control can make it harder for migrant communities to access services but there are also often other barriers. Some of these are built into systems and institutions themselves, while others come from racism, discrimination and hostility in wider society.

This does not mean that everyone in a community is hostile or racist. But loud anti-migrant voices, parts of the mainstream media, organised far-right groups and discriminatory systems can all shape how safe or welcome people feel, and how they are treated when trying to access support or services.

This could include:

• Language and communication barriers – if you don’t speak English, or find it hard to understand or communicate
• Being made to feel unwelcome or discriminated against – this means being treated differently because of your identity or circumstances. It could be someone refusing to help you, or provide a certain service to you, by ignoring you, or through offensive words or actions
• Lack of respect for religious or cultural requirements – this could mean being refused a chaperone or female doctor, or not being allowed an appropriate place to pray
• Lack of professional knowledge – when services don’t understand your rights and entitlements, they can refuse to support you or make accessing support confusing and intimidating
• Feeling scared – of being asked to pay, of being reported to the Home Office, of being targeted

These barriers can make accessing services feel intimidating. If possible, going with someone you trust to appointments and making connections in your community can help you feel safer.

If someone treats you differently because of your race, religion, gender, sexuality or a disability, they could be committing a criminal offence. It can feel overwhelming and scary to say something, but if you feel able to, then you can report this as a hate crime to the police.

If you feel threatened or targeted in a service, or if things just don’t feel right, try to find a space where you feel safe, or contact someone you trust to explain what is happening. You can think about how you feel and what you want to do next. This could be reporting an incident, making a complaint, or finding a different service to use.

Sometimes, abuse and violence can happen when you are in a public space, or in your accommodation. Verbal abuse, threats, harassment and violent attacks can all be criminal offences, and are not acceptable in any situation.

If you are threatened directly, or repeatedly, then you can report this to the police, and if you think you are at immediate risk of harm then call 999. 

Making a new application

You will usually need to make a new application to be granted leave to remain. Different applications could also give you access to different types of support.

Further submissions

If your asylum claim was refused and you have no more appeal rights, you might be able to submit more information or evidence by making further submissions. You can do this at any point in your case, even if it has been a long time since you came to the UK or received a refusal.

There are some general principles to understand if you are thinking about making further submissions which we explain in the Fresh claim toolkit page. 

If you have made further submissions, you can request financial support and housing from the Home Office by applying for asylum support. We explain what this is below, and on our asylum support toolkit page.

A new immigration application

You might be able to make a new immigration application based on human rights. This might be because of the connections you have in the UK, or because of your particular circumstances. If your application is not based on protection grounds, you can submit this using an online form and submitting your evidence to the Home Office. 

Preparing to make an application

Strict immigration rules mean that often, people spend a long time in the UK before they can make an application. You might choose to stay in the UK if you know that the country you are from is unsafe or unstable, and this has not been accepted by the Home Office or courts. 

If you plan on making an application based on the time you have spent in the UK, and the connections you have to the UK, then you will need to be able to provide evidence. Gathering evidence early and keeping copies of your documents can be really helpful for when you make an application. 

Data protection law means that services can delete your information after a certain period of time. This can make it more difficult to get information later on. If you can, keep copies of all your documents by saving them as digital files. You might also want to give physical copies of your documents to someone you trust who can keep these somewhere safe for you. Things that could be useful for proving time spent in the UK might include:

• Letters or emails confirming paid or voluntary work, payslips, tax returns, national insurance records
• Home Office documents
• Medical letters and records
• Bank statements
• Certificates from education or training
• Bills and rent agreements
• Membership documents or ID
• Photographs

If you can’t afford to pay for an application

If you want to make an immigration application, but you cannot afford the fees, you may be able to request a fee waiver so that you can make your application without paying. To do this, you will need to provide evidence to show that:

• You can’t afford your housing or living costs
• You are experiencing destitution
• You have a low income and paying fees could impact a child’s wellbeing

What support can I get if I need somewhere to stay, or have no money?

If you are experiencing destitution, there are different types of support that you might be able to access. Some types of support are only given to people with a certain immigration status, and others depend on your circumstances including:

• Your income and living costs
• If you are responsible for a child
• If you are caring for someone
• If you have a medical condition that affects your ability to look after yourself
• If you have a disability and need special equipment or care
• If you have a mental health condition and have been kept in hospital because of this

To understand which types of support you might qualify for, you will need to check and confirm your immigration status. If you are not sure about this, then you can ask for a copy of your home office records by making a subject access request.

Asylum support

Asylum support is provided by the Home Office. There are different types of asylum support which are usually named after the section of the law where they are explained. The main types are called ‘Section 98’, ‘Section 95’, ‘section 4’ and ‘schedule 10’. The support you can access will depend on the stage of your case, and your individual circumstances.

You can apply for asylum support if:

• You have made a first claim for asylum, have not received a final decision and have nowhere to live or no money to support yourself;

• You have claimed asylum and received a refusal decision, and you have no more appeal rights and:
  • You have asked for help from the Home Office to return to the country you are from; or
  • You are not able to leave the UK because of a medical condition (a doctor must confirm in writing that you are not able to travel on a plane); or
  • There is no safe way to travel to the country you are from; or
  • You have permission to request a judicial review about your asylum claim; or
  • Support is needed to protect your human rights – this includes if you have made further submissions to the Home Office.

• You are on immigration bail, you have been told that you need to stay in a specific address and you have nowhere to live.

Asking for different support

If you are living somewhere that is not safe, suitable or accessible, you might want to ask for a different type of support.

A lot of people experience issues with the accommodation provided through asylum support. Houses are often in poor condition and need repairs. This can make it uncomfortable to live in a property, and sometimes unsafe. It is important to report any issues to the Home Office to ask them to make the property safe and secure.

Often, when you first ask for asylum support, you will be given a room in a hotel. Sometimes you will be told to share a room with someone else. This is called emergency accommodation and should only be for a short time. In reality, many people have to live in hotels for a long time, which can mean not being able to cook your own meals, and having to share space with unfamiliar people. This can be hard, particularly if you have experienced trauma, or abuse.

Sometimes, if you are living in a hotel, you will be told that you won’t be given money to support yourself, but will be given food at the hotel. The food can be different to what you are used to or would like to eat, and there are often no cooking facilities for you to cook for yourself. If you or your child have special dietary requirements, you can explain this and make a request for different arrangements but this might not be accepted if the Home Office decides the food is suitable.

If you are given asylum support, the Home Office can decide to move you to a different place at any time. You won’t have a choice about where you will live. You could be moved somewhere far away, or somewhere that is very remote (this means it is not close to a town or services). This can also happen with very little notice.

It can be difficult to move if you have been in an area for a long time, for example if you have made connections in the community, found a lawyer nearby, are receiving medical treatment or have children in school. You can explain to the Home Office that you do not want to move, and explain why you need to stay in your area. The Home Office might consider this information and offer you a different property, or they might refuse and tell you that you have to move anyway.

For any accommodation issues or requests, it is important to try and provide as much information and evidence as possible.

If you refuse to go to the accommodation offered to you, then the Home Office can record this as ‘failure to travel’. Sometimes this happens by accident, for example if you didn’t know you were going to be moved, or because the person who comes to collect you goes to the wrong address. If you are told that you failed to travel, then it is important to explain why, so that you can request to be taken to the accommodation again or to ask for a different option. If your explanation is not accepted then you might need to apply again for support.

Sometimes, your circumstances could change while you are in asylum support, for example if you have a child, or separate from a partner. You might be sharing a room, or a property, and feel uncomfortable or unsafe because of other residents. If you need different accommodation because your accommodation is not suitable or accessible, you don’t feel safe, or you want to live separately from someone else then you can explain this and ask to be moved. 

If you are in danger, and need to move urgently, then you should report this as soon as possible. You can talk to a housing officer, or a trusted person who can support you to do this. You might be able to access a safe house in some situations. In an emergency, call 999. 

There has been an increase of attacks on asylum support housing. If you think that your home is being targeted, or you have been threatened, then you can report this to the police, and to the Home Office. If there is a trusted person that you can contact in your area, then they could also help you to seek safety and report what is happening. 

Discontinuation of support

There are different situations where your asylum support can be stopped. This is called a discontinuation. If the Home Office plans to stop giving you asylum support, then they should send you a letter explaining this. You support might be stopped if:

• You receive a decision on your asylum claim 
• The Home Office thinks you are not living in the accommodation
• The Home Office thinks you are not destitute – this can include if they believe you have a bank account or are working
• Your asylum claim is withdrawn – this can happen if you miss a reporting event, or an interview, or if you breach bail conditions, for example by working without permission

If you receive a discontinuation letter, try to read through this and understand why your support is being stopped. 

If your claim has been withdrawn then you will need to take action to restart your claim. You might be able to challenge a discontinuation decision by explaining things or providing evidence. 

If you have received a decision on your asylum claim, then your options will depend on whether your claim is refused or accepted.

If you are granted protection status or leave to remain, then you will have a limited time (currently 42 days) to find another place to stay. You can check whether you can access housing through the local authority and follow the local application process. You might be able to find support to do this through an organisation supporting migrant communities in your area.

If your asylum claim is refused, you will need to check whether you have a right of appeal against the decision. If you do, then the appeal deadline is 14 days from the date of the decision. It is important that you lodge an appeal in time to make sure that your support continues. If you miss the appeal deadline, then you can still lodge an appeal and ask for asylum support again but this can be more complicated.

Requesting permission to work

If you have claimed asylum and have been waiting for 12 months or more for a decision from the Home Office, then you might be able to ask for permission to work.

If you are given permission to work, you will only be allowed to do certain jobs. If you do a job that is not on the allowed list, you could be told that you are working illegally and you could be told you are committing a crime. Sometimes this can be given as a reason for stopping your asylum support

Asylum support is only provided to people who are experiencing destitution. If you start to receive enough income to support yourself through your job, then the Home Office can also say that you are no longer destitute and stop your asylum support.

The rules on who can receive asylum support and who can work have changed recently. It is possible that they will change again so it is important to check this or seek legal advice if you plan to ask for permission to work.

Asking to return to the country you are from 

There is a process called ‘voluntary return’ which you can apply to if you want to return to the country you are from. This is different to being removed or deported from the UK because it is not considered a forced removal. 

The Home Office might share information about voluntary return to you if you receive a refusal letter. Although this process is voluntary, sometimes it is explained in a way that can make you feel pressured to make an application for return, even if you don’t want to. If you feel like you are being pressured to ask for voluntary return, you can say that you don’t want to discuss this.

Applying for voluntary return means that you can ask for asylum support while you wait to be returned to your country. It might feel like this is your only option if you have nowhere to live and no money to support yourself, and you don’t feel able to make a new immigration or asylum application yet. If your case has been refused, and you have been told that your support will stop, it can be really confusing and difficult to know what to do next. 

Asking for voluntary return can impact your immigration status, so it is important to consider whether you really want to be returned to the country you are from. 

If you ask for voluntary return and then change your mind, then you can withdraw your application, but this could affect future applications. For example, if you ask for voluntary return, then make a fresh claim for asylum, then the Home Office could say that you would be safe in the country you are from because you asked to return there. If this happens to you then you can explain why you made the request and what has changed.

Sometimes, you might decide that you want to return to the country you are from. This could be because your circumstances have changed, the situation in your country has improved or because you don’t want to live in the UK. If you apply for voluntary return, you can also request financial support from the Home Office. This can help you support yourself when you arrive in your home country.

Public Funds

If you have leave to remain, and there is no NRPF condition, then you can apply for benefits if you need help with your living costs or accommodation. You will need to meet the rules for each specific type of support. This usually means your income and circumstances will be checked to confirm whether you qualify. You can check what benefits you could get by using online benefit calculators.

If you have leave to remain but do not have recourse to public funds, then you might be able to apply specific benefits that are not classed as public funds. You can find a list of these here. 

You also might be able to apply to have the NRPF condition removed. This is done by completing an application called a ‘change of conditions’ using an online form, and giving information about your circumstances. It is important to consider whether this is the best option for you, and whether it might impact your immigration status. 

Local authority support

A local authority means the local government in the area where you live. The local authorities are legally responsible for supporting certain people. There are two main reasons why this support could be given:

• a child (under 18) is in need of additional support because they are at risk or there is no responsible adult to care for them
• An adult is assessed as having ‘eligible care needs’ and requires support to ensure their wellbeing and safety

Before the local authority can provide support, they will complete an assessment. This can take a long time and be complicated. Sometimes, assessments can be incorrect or missing information, and support can be refused. If the local authority refuses to support you, you might be able to challenge this decision. You can try to provide more information or evidence, or you can look for a community care solicitor to help you. 

NRM

If you think you might have experienced modern slavery or trafficking, you can ask to be given a safe place to stay and money to support yourself while you think about your next steps. This is normally arranged through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), which is a government process for identifying and supporting people in this situation. 

Referrals to the NRM are usually made through the Salvation Army or by a specific person, but you can also call and report this yourself.

Charity housing or support

There are lots of charity and community organisations providing support to different groups of people. This could include housing, financial support, support and advice services, clothes and food, or something else.

Temporary shelter

If you have nowhere to live, you might be able to find a homelessness shelter in your local area. Shelters are usually temporary. This means that you might be told that you can only stay in the shelter at night, or for a short amount of time, and you usually can’t leave any belongings there.

Sometimes, a shelter will say that they cannot help you because of your immigration status. This is usually because they can’t access any money to pay for people who have NRPF to stay in the shelter. 

If the weather is extreme (usually when it is very cold), the local government can issue a ‘severe weather provision’. This means that they can give you a place to stay while this is happening, even if you have NRPF, because the weather means it could be dangerous to sleep outside. If the weather is very cold, or there is a big storm, you can try to go to a local shelter and ask if there are any special provisions in place.

Hosting and housing charities 

There are some organisations that can help you find a place to stay while you are working on your immigration or asylum case. This could be shared housing that is provided by a charity, or it could be through a hosting arrangement where you live with someone who has offered to share a space in their home.

You can try and search for support online by checking the No Accommodation network (NACCOM) member list to see if there is somewhere near you that might be able to help.

Refuges and Safe houses 

If you are in a situation where you feel unsafe because of your identity or because of how you are being treated, then you might be able to get special support and housing. This might mean that you can live in a type of accommodation called a refuge, which is a property that has extra safety measures in place, and support staff available to protect and help the people living there. You might be able to access this support if:

• you have been affected by domestic abuse
• you may have experienced modern slavery or trafficking (explained above [link in text?])
• you feel unsafe because of your sexuality or gender identity

If you think you have experienced or are experiencing domestic abuse, you can seek help to access a refuge. This type of support gives you a safe place to live while you plan your next steps.

If you identify as LGBTQI, you might be able to apply to stay in a safe house with other LGBTQI people.  Microrainbow can provide safe housing and social support for people who are waiting for a decision on an asylum claim or a fresh claim. 

Food banks and clothes banks

A food bank is a place where you can go and access free food if you have a low income or are experiencing destitution. There is a local food bank in most areas in the UK.

Sometimes, food banks will ask you to bring proof of your circumstances. This might be a letter showing that you are receiving asylum support, a bank statement or a letter from a support service who have told you to go to the food bank.

There are lots of local organisations that can also help you to get clothes that are appropriate for the weather, like a coat or shoes. If you have children then you might also be able to get support to find free school uniforms, from a charity, from a school or from the local authority. You can check for local services online by searching for ‘free clothes’ and your area.

Charity support

There are lots of charities in the UK, providing different types of support. This could include:

• Helping you access and understand services
• Providing advice and support
• Help with living costs or transport costs
• English lessons
• Activities and community events for wellbeing 

You can check if there are any support services in your local area by searching online. You can also contact bigger, national organisations to ask for help to access support.

Some organisations only support specific groups of people. Support can include connecting you with other people in your community, or helping you understand and navigate different situations. It could also be help with money, food or clothes.

If you are pregnant, you might be able to get support to understand your maternity rights, or help you when you give birth. You may also be able to get help with money or for clothes and items for your baby. 

If you identify as LGBTQI, there are lots of different organisations that can support you by sharing information and connecting you with a community.

If you have a disability, you might be entitled to extra support. Sometimes professionals are misinformed about who is entitled to what, and the legal duties of a particular service. This can often be a barrier for adults with care needs, and for people seeking asylum who have a disability. There are lots of resources online that explain rights and entitlements, as well as some organisations providing support and advocacy.

If you have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, or you are feeling very low or anxious, you might be able to access therapy or counselling. If you think you are having a mental health crisis and you are at risk you can call 999 or go to A&E. There also might be a community support group near you where you can go and meet other people or take part in activities. If you are struggling, your GP can also help you understand any possible treatment options, or refer you to a specialist if needed.