Asylum support
The asylum system is complex and difficult to navigate. When someone lodges a claim for protection, the circumstances of the individuals can be varied. We don’t seek to offer advice tailored to the person here, but provide some general guidance.
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Asylum support
People seeking asylum may access support under different terms, dependent upon where in the process they are. Here’s some brief information relating to the types of support under which people claim support:
- Section 98 – this is a form of ‘temporary’ or ‘emergency’ support for people requesting support under Section 95 or seeking relief from destitution under certain terms.
- Section 95 – people are granted support under Section 95 whilst they await a decision on their claim for a form of protection or Refugee status.
- Section 4 – people may be able to access this support if they’ve had their asylum claim refused with ‘appeal rights exhausted’ but are facing barriers to leaving the UK, or have been granted a ‘judicial review’, and Section 4 support is required to avoid breaching their human rights.
Most people who claim asylum do so without the financial capacity to support themselves during the process, and without many having the right to work, people often need to apply for cash and accommodation support. This is delivered through two contracts:
- AASC – Asylum Accommodation & Support Contract.
- AIRE – Advice, Issue Reporting & Eligibility.
AASC and AIRE
AASC covers more than accommodation, but safe and appropriate housing is a key facet of the contract. However, it also includes a range of other practical support, face to face assistance and/or signposting. Serco deliver the AASC contract on behalf of the Home Office in the North West region.
The accommodation offer is usually as follows:
Initial Accommodation is intended for use until dispersed housing can be offered. All Initial Accommodation in the North West region is in Liverpool. People are normally under Section 98 support when they arrive and make a claim for Section 95 support whilst accommodated there. Initial Accommodation in Liverpool is self-catered, so people are given cash support for food costs, until a point at which (if) they’re granted Section 95, they’ll be issued with cash support via an Aspen card (information on Aspen cards | Migrant Help ) . The Home Office guide Living in initial accommodation (www.gov.uk) details what can be expected for occupants. These sites are usually staffed in the North West.
Contingency Accommodation is sourced as a temporary measure when there isn’t capacity available in initial accommodation for new arrivals. Hotel usage sits within this category and people will usually arrive under Section 98 support, prior to making their claim for Section 95 support. Once (and if) they’re granted Section 95, they’ll be issued with cash support via an Aspen card, but as many sites provide catered accommodation, this affects the level of cash support offered. These sites are usually staffed in the North West.
Dispersed Accommodation is the most common type of accommodation used and present in each Council within the North West. These are properties within the community and come in a range of types, including but not limited to Houses of Multiple Occupation, family homes and self-contained flats. People are normally accommodated here under Section 95 or Section 4, and the Home Office guide Living in dispersal accommodation (www.gov.uk) details what can be expected for occupants. These settings aren’t staffed, but they are assigned a Housing Manager and need to be inspected at least once per calendar month.
If you need to contact someone within Serco, you can email your relevant Partnership Manager. If you don’t have their details, you can email the Serco Partnership Team via their group inbox, [email protected].
If you wish to know more about the AASC contract provision, the Asylum Matters Accommodation Standards graphic gives a good brief overview of the accommodation and maintenance schedules.
AIRE offers advice and guidance for people seeking asylum, but it’s also the main point of contact for matters relating to their support, their asylum claim, and communication with the Home Office or their Housing Provider (Serco).
Migrant Help deliver the AIRE contract nationally on behalf of the Home Office and you can find details of how to contact them on their website. Please note, if you wish to act on behalf of someone seeking asylum, you’ll need to download the Third Party Consent form from their website. It will need to be signed by the person and they’ll need to supply personal information including:
- Full Name
- Migrant Help Reference Number
- Port or NASS Reference
- Date of Birth
- Address
- Name of Agency (requesting consent)
The AIRE contract also has provision for ‘Move On’ support, which is offered to people who have had a positive or negative decision on their claim, seeking to remain in the UK.
If you wish to know more about the contract provision, you can see the Asylum Matters AIRE requirements graphic
The ‘Move On’ period
When the Home Office have considered an asylum claim and reached a decision, they issue the outcome to the person, or their named representative. They’ll inform the person of their ‘support end date’, which is the time at which their subsistence and accommodation support will end. The accommodation provider will also be informed, so they can issue a further notice to the person. There’s a minimum amount of notice the Home Office should give, dependent upon the decision.
- Grant of Asylum (Positive Decision) – 28 days.
- Refusal of Asylum (Negative Decision) – 21 days.
If someone has an issue with their Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), you can report it to Migrant Help via their [email protected] inbox. Please note you’ll need to have a signed ‘Third Party Consent Form’ if you’re raising an issue on behalf of a person seeking asylum.
Receiving a positive decision, though good news, is also a really challenging time for people. There’s so much to organise to access housing and benefits within the limited time they have available. Migrant Help offer a ‘Move On’ service, which is provided on an ‘opt-in’ basis by Reed in Partnership.
If someone has received a negative decision, there is an appeals process. Migrant Help can provide some guidance to individuals who have received a negative decision.
If you know someone who is at risk of homelessness, you may have a duty to refer, but you can find some useful resources on our find help with housing page.
If you have any further questions relating to asylum please contact the team via [email protected].