- Foreword
- Introduction
- Immigration status and eligibility for public funds
- Public funds for immigration purposes
- Eligibility for other publicly funded services
- Social services’ support - introduction
- Social services’ support – referrals
- Social services’ support – exclusion
- Social services’ support – children within families
- Social services’ support – adults
- Unaccompanied children & young people leaving care
- Assessments when the exclusion applies
- Reviews and ending support
- Pathways out of destitution
- Social services’ support - NRPF service delivery
- EEA nationals and family members
- Asylum seekers
- Survivors of trafficking and modern slavery
- Useful information and other services
- Upcoming legislative changes
- Glossary
Public funds for immigration purposes
Under UK immigration laws, access to certain public services is dependent on a person’s immigration status. This chapter provides details of what services are classed as ‘public funds’ for immigration purposes.
Later chapters provide information on how to identify whether a person has access to public funds and whether other forms of assistance may be available.
Key Facts
- The ‘no recourse to public funds’ (NRPF) condition prevents people from accessing most mainstream social security benefits, homelessness assistance and a local authority allocation of social housing, although there are some exceptions which may mean a particular benefit can be claimed by a person with NRPF.
- A person with NRPF is not prevented from accessing other publicly funded services, although their immigration status or length of residence may be a relevant factor in establishing entitlement to certain services.
- Local authorities have duties to safeguard the welfare of children, young people leaving care and vulnerable adults, which can include providing accommodation and financial support when a person has NRPF and is prevented from accessing mainstream benefits and social housing by their immigration status.
- Local authority staff working across all first points of contact should be aware of the support options that a person with NRPF may have, so that an appropriate referral can be made to the relevant social work team when a family or vulnerable adult is at risk of homelessness.