British Red Cross report finds new refugees are falling destitute as they are not given enough time or support to sort out vital paperwork
A new report from the British Red Cross reveals that refugees are falling destitute after getting government permission to stay, as they are not given enough time or support to sort out vital paperwork.
You can read the 72-page report, The Move-on Period: An ordeal for new refugees, here.
The report notes that those on asylum support continue to receive it for 28 days after receiving refugee status, as moving from asylum to mainstream support requires the issue of many documents and the following of a complex administrative process.
The British Red Cross says that its research found moving from asylum support is a real ordeal for new refugees and usually takes much longer than the 28-day 'grace period' given by the government.
As a result, many new refugees – if not all – become destitute, without basic needs such as food and shelter.
The report's key findings are:
• In the one-month data collection period, 14% of people seen by the British Red Cross refugee service in Birmingham were in the move-on period. All were destitute.
• All stakeholders involved in the transition process share the responsibility for any difficulties that refugees encounter in the move- on period: the Home Office, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Jobcentre Plus (JCP), and new refugees themselves.
• Our research identified 23 factors at play during the move-on period. For some people, between five and ten different issues were affecting the process. The multiple and diverse factors explain why new refugees are left destitute shortly after being granted status.
• There is a lack of clarity and knowledge around DWP policies related to refugees. As a result, office practice often seems to prevail over policies and legislation.
• It can take up to 85 days from applying for benefits to receiving the first payment.
The British Red Cross recommends that new refugees are given longer than 28 days to make the switch to mainstream support.
Jonathan Ellis, head of policy, research and advocacy at the Red Cross, said: "For many refugees that we support, when they finally hear that they can stay in the country and are granted refugee protection, a moment of joy becomes one of alarm when they realise that they face destitution."
"Our report details the specific reasons that refugees face destitution at this time. It really does not need to be like this. We set out clear recommendations to ensure that no refugee granted the right to stay in the UK is then plunged into destitution. We want to work with government to turn these recommendations into reality and end this unnecessary suffering."
Refugee Action's Strategy Development Manager Tim Hilton welcomed the report, saying: "It adds to the existing evidence suggesting that this is a real humanitarian crisis being created by the government due to our inefficient and ineffective asylum system. Working with refugees and asylum seekers every day, we see the additional hardship and trauma that often occurs during the weeks and months after a person is granted status. We fully support the recommendations made by the British Red Cross in the 'move-on period' report."