Delays in the asylum system leaving many refugees homeless
- 08 May
A report by the Refugee Council has discovered examples of refugees who were forced to sleep rough and beg for money whilst waiting for their documents to arrive.
The charity is calling on the government to review its system so that delays are eliminated in issuing documentation.
In the report, titled '28 Days Later: the experience of new refugees in the UK', the short period of time between the granting of refugee status and the end of asylum support is analysed. Using information from the 469 advice sessions Refugee Council held in 2013 for individuals it worked with. Under current rules, asylum seekers lose accommodation and funding support 28 days after they are granted refugee status, reports Inside Housing.
The report found that in some instances, refugees were waiting for months to be issued the correct documentation to enable them to claim mainstream benefits, find employment and support themselves. It also found that Jobcentre Plus advisors had a lack of awareness of the entitlements of refugees, with many refugees being asked to provide documentation that is irrelevant and having the Habitual Residence Test applied to their cases, even though refugees are exempt from this.
Dr Lisa Doyle, advocacy manager at Refugee Council and author of the report, said: "Refugees have fled horrifying experiences in their own countries and have lost everything. When they arrive in the UK, many are met by a complex, hostile asylum system which can leave people living in limbo for years, waiting to have a final decision on their fate. Being finally recognised as a refugee should be a moment to be celebrated. It is unacceptable that the reverse is true and that it is a confusing, chaotic period where people can find themselves on the street, begging for money. It seems perverse that when someone is accepted as in need of protection the state puts them at further risk through bureaucratic failures that can make them homeless and destitute. The Home Office must urgently review the current system to ensure that vulnerable refugees are not left unsupported."
What do you think of this? Tweet us your comments @suppsolutions
Image source: http://www.freeimages.com/photo/1193076
Related articles
- 24 Apr
MPs criticise asylum housing scheme management
The Public Accounts Committee has said that the Home Office scheme has resulted in asylum seekers being places in "unacceptable poor" housing due to being "badly managed", reports the BBC. The Home...
- 21 Feb
Asylum Seekers let down by G4S
The study took place in Yorkshire and the Humber and the North East, prepared on behalf of South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group (SYMAAG) and Notog4sYorkshire Plus, for the Independent...
- 14 Dec
Consistent Problems for Detainees
The two inspectorates interviewed a total of 81 detainees to establish the factors relevant to the decision to detain or maintain detention, and the impact that detention was having on them. They...
- 21 Nov
G4S Asylum Seeker Housing Declared Unfit
Parliamentary inquiry into housing provided to asylum seeker families by G4S is not fit for children to live in.--> --> --> -->Women staying in hostels provided by G4S have reported...
- 15 Oct
Pakistani Girl fighting for education will receive treatment in the UK
Until now, she has been at a military hospital in Rawalpindi, but London had offered to help her in any way, so the evacuation has been arranged by the Pakistani authorities after an assessment by...
- 05 Oct
Child starved to death after benefits delay
Further tragedies are increasingly likely as more asylum claims are processed while support funding dries up, organisations claim.Details of the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of ‘child...
- 01 Oct
Pregnant women, children and people with disabilities among those living on less than 77p a day
Pregnant women, children and people with disabilities are among those who have been left destitute on Scotland's streets, according to a report by the Scottish Poverty Information Unit (pdf) which is...
- 24 Sep
Asylum Seeker Process can cause Mental Health Problems for Children
A study by The Childrens Society shows the link between the troubles children have when claiming asylum and their mental health and well being.Of the 3,000 unaccompanied children that claim asylum in...
- 20 Aug
Championing Asylum Rights After Death of Whole Family
The decision not to carry out a fatal accident inquiry into the deaths of three asylum seekers in Glasgow brings to an end a sorry tale of desperation.Russian refugees Serguei, Tatiana and Stepan...
Exempt Accommodation, Welfare Reform and Vulnerable Tenants Everything was extremely useful. I like to hear about the updated case law and how things are changing. Also like to hear other delegates examples and the responses to their difficulties. Support solutions are excellent. K.B- Jephson Housing Association
