Rights and entitlements
If you are seeking asylum in the UK this information will provide you with a brief overview of your rights & entitlements. This is not a comprehensive list, and each individual’s circumstance may vary.
Contents
Housing
If you need accommodation, you will be given somewhere to live. This could be in a house, flat, or hotel. All of these sites are provided by the Home Office provider, in the North West Serco.
For any issues with housing, requesting a move or reporting any issues you will need to contact Migrant Help.
You can not choose where you live, Home Office provide accommodation on a no choice basis. To request a move, you will need to contact Migrant Help.
To report any issues with housing, you will need to do so via Migrant Help. You can call Migrant Help on 0808 8010 503. The phone line is always open. It is free to call Migrant Help, and they can provide an interpreter. You can also use their webchat via their website. If someone is helping you report these issues, you will need to be with them on the phone to give your consent. If they report the issue via the webchat, you will need to have a signed consent form.
Cash Support
You will be provided a cash allowance, on an ASPEN card, by the Home Office if you are seeking asylum. How much you are entitled to depends on what type of accommodation you are in, how many people are in your family size and the type of asylum support you are on.
To report any issues with your cash allowance or your ASPEN card, you will need to do so via Migrant Help. You can call Migrant Help on 0808 8010 503. The phone line is always open. It is free to call Migrant Help, and they can provide an interpreter. You can also use their webchat via their website. If someone is helping you report these issues, you will need to be with them on the phone to give your consent If they report the issue via the webchat, you will need to have a signed consent form.
Healthcare
If you are seeking asylum, you are eligible for free healthcare. You can register with a GP, optician, and dentist free of charge. You can ask your Serco Housing Officer where your closest GP will be whilst in your accommodation. Doctors do not provide translated registration forms but should provide an interpreter for all medical appointments, if required. A GP cannot refuse your registration at a practice based on your immigration status.
The Refugee Council have produced a range of resources to help you register with the GP if you are struggling. You can find various translated resources at Therapeutic Wellbeing Resources – Refugee Council
You will sometimes be asked to provide a HC2. A HC2 is a certificate that provides you your access to free healthcare, such as prescriptions. Apply online for help with NHS costs – NHSBSA . To find out more about HC2 you can see this helpful resource: Guidance to support HC2 application for asylum seekers.
To find your local medical access centres:
Education
Children under the age of 18 in the UK must be in full time education or training. If you are on low income, children should also be eligible for free school meals.
Your housing officer will be able to offer advice and support the application process. The Gov.uk site also provides information on school admissions (Gov.uk).
Frequently Asked Questions
What are asylum seekers entitled to in England?
People seeking asylum have ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ (NRPF) status. This means they can’t access mainstream benefits, such as Universal Credit and Housing Benefit. The Home Office offers housing and subsistence support if people aren’t able to fund themselves. People are unable to seek paid employment unless their claim has been undecided for 12 months and then at the discretion of the Home Office. If people are granted the right to work, they can only access jobs from the immigration salary list (www.gov.uk). For more information about what people with NRPF status can access, such as health, social care and education, please see the NRPF Network rights and entitlements webpage.
What are my rights as a person seeking asylum in the UK?
You have the right to fair treatment and respect, but you can find further information on asylum applicants’ rights and responsibilities (www.gov.uk).
Do people seeking asylum get free NHS?
Yes. You can find guidance on the NHS website for people who do not need to pay for NHS treatment.