By Georgia Hawthorne, volunteer.

A recent report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) has highlighted the continuing link between migration status in the UK and experiences of destitution. Essentially, the report decries destitution induced by a continuum of government policies designed to create a hostile environment for migrants. The inhumane consequences of these policies including but not limited to destitution have been exacerbated by austerity policies and the cost-of-living crisis. The JRF reports urge for the need to break this connection between migrant status and destitution and highlights the cruelty of policy-induced destitution. It is not radical to say that no human being deserves to experience such extreme poverty and inhumanity. In one sense, destitution has become a core feature of the migration policy and migration control regimes.

Asylum Seekers and Destitution
The JRF report points to three key drivers which contribute to this linking of migrant status and destitution: the inefficient and inaccurate processing of asylum claims; the lack of financial support, or ability to support oneself and any dependents, whilst in the asylum system; and thirdly, the drastic shortening of the ‘move on’ period when an asylum claim is eventually approved.

1. Inaccurate and Inefficient processing of asylum claims

The UK government’s routine systemic failings in the handling of asylum claims in a timely and accurate manner is contributing to an ever-building backlog of people waiting for decisions. The report details a record number of people waiting on asylum claims, and points to figures obtained by the Refugee Council in June 2022 which reveal how a third of asylum claimants had been waiting for a decision on their initial claim for one to three years [1]. Contributing even further to this building backlog, according to Home Office data, 53% of asylum claim appeals have been successful [2]. So, even when eventually completed, the decision making is oftentimes inaccurate and worthy of questioning. This governmental ineptitude creates an ongoing crisis of people suspended in limbo, unable to start the process of rebuilding their lives in the UK.

Recommendation: The report calls for the government to commit to more efficient, accurate and timely decision-making in the asylum system.

2. Insufficient financial support whilst in the Asylum System

Asylum seekers are insufficiently supported by the government while awaiting a decision on their application. The basic rate of asylum support in the UK is £47.39 per week, per person in a household – this doesn’t even match the Universal Credit Standard allowance for a single person and is simply not enough to cover the basic essentials [3]. Those waiting on asylum claims are limited in their capacity to support themselves and any dependents, as work is made inaccessible to them. In order to apply to work, an asylum seeker will have had to wait more than twelve months for a decision on their claim. Further, not everyone can apply for permission to work. Lift The Ban (2020) have reported on how adult dependents seeking asylum are barred from working, with this group of people being significantly more likely to be women [4]. This leaves these women more financially dependent on their male counterparts, and thus more vulnerable.

Recommendation: JRF believe asylum seekers, and their adult dependents, should have the right to work after six months.

3. Shortening of the ‘move on’ period

JRF’s report finally takes issue with what is called the ‘move on’ period. This ‘move on’ period, is the time allowed for people who have recently been granted refugee status to move from the asylum system to being self-supported in the UK. This transition requires refugees to find alternative accommodation, a job, or access Universal Credit support – all administrative tasks which are complicated and require time. In the same vein as other hostile environment policies, this ‘grace’ period has been drastically shortened. As of August 2023, this ‘move-on’ period has been shortened to just seven days. This is simply not enough time for anyone – let alone new refugees in an unfamiliar country, not likely to speak the language – to transition to a self-supported lifestyle. As the JRF report highlights, the repeated shortening of this period further increases the likelihood of destitution

Recommendation: JRF are calling for the extension of this ‘move on’ period to 56 days to give people the time to transition into secure housing, work and / or benefits support.

No Recourse to Public Funds – ‘No Safety Net’
Migrants in the UK, who are not necessarily here to seek asylum, also experience this heightened risk of destitution. This is a problem which is only getting worse, with the report noting a 155% increase in the number of children experiencing destitution in a household headed by someone who is a migrant [5] [6]. The common theme in the JRF report is the fact that there is ‘no safety net’ for these people.

Many migrant visas are granted with the condition of having ‘no recourse to public funds’ (NRPF). Those who have NRPF cannot seek governmental support in a time of crisis, and thus are more susceptible to experiencing destitution. Estimates suggest that nearly 1.6 million people in the UK have this NRPF condition attached to their visa, and these people include those who have been issued a visa to work in the health and social care sector here, children who have migrated to join a family member, anyone undergoing the process of seeking asylum, and people who are undocumented [7]. As longer routes towards settlement have become the norm, people are experiencing lengthier periods with NRPF. This economic vulnerability is compounded by a more expensive route to settlement, with it costing an adult at least £12,800 when on the ten-year route to settlement [8].

This continued dearth of support from central government increases the pressure on local authorities, charities and foodbanks, who all have a responsibility to support people regardless of their migration status. Yet, these organisations receive inadequate financial support to help vulnerable people experiencing destitution, and thus are limited in their capacity to combat such a widespread crisis.

JRF Recommendations:

• Remove local welfare funding from the list of restricted public funds, this would mean everyone has access to an emergency safety net
• Make it quicker and easier for NRPF status to be lifted for people facing hardship
• Cap routes to settlement at five years
• Review visa fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge
• Design clearer and shorter routes to regularisation when people have fallen out of status
• Have a root and branch review of NRPF, with the report suggesting initial steps could involve allowing recourse to child-related benefits and support with childcare costs

Our work at Migrant Action
Here at Migrant Action, we work to support migrants directly with the effects of hostile policies, this includes helping those currently struggling with having no recourse to public funds. Our work is two-fold in its approach, as we also seek to address the structural causes of injustices which compromise migrant rights. In this instance, we want to sever the link between migration status and destitution, not just through supporting those who have experienced destitution, but also through addressing the unjust policies which facilitate this connection in the first place.

References
JRF Briefing: https://www.jrf.org.uk/protection-for-everyone-in-our-communities
[1] Refugee Council (2022) New figures reveal scale of asylum backlog crisis. Available at: https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/latest/news/new-figures-reveal-scale-of-asylum- backlog-crisis/ (refugeecouncil.org.uk) [Accessed: 15 December 2023].
[2] Home Office (2023) National statistics: How many people do we grant protection to? Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-system-statistics- year-ending-june-2023/how-many-people-do-we-grant-protection-to (gov.uk) [Accessed: 15 December 2023].
[3] Gov.uk (2023b) Asylum support. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/asylum- support/what-youll-get (gov.uk) [Accessed: 15 December 2023].
[4] Lift The Ban (2020) Lift the ban: Why giving people seeking asylum the right to work is common sense. Available at: https://lifttheban.co.uk/wp- content/uploads/2020/07/Lift-The-Ban-Common-Sense.pdf (lifttheban.co.uk) [Accessed: 15 December 2023].
[5] Fitzpatrick, S, Bramley, G, Blenkinsopp, J, Wood, J, Sosenko, F, Littlewood, M, Johnsen, S, Watts, B, Treanor, M, McIntyre, J (2020) Destitution in the UK 2020. Available at: https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/destitution-uk-2020 (jrf.org.uk) [Accessed: 15 December 2023].
[6] Fitzpatrick, S. Bramley, G. Treanor, M. Blenkinsopp, J. McIntyre, J. Johnsen, S. and McMordie, L. (2023) Destitution in the UK 2023. Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Available at: https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/destitution-uk-2023 [Accessed 15 December 2023].
[7] McKinney, CJ, and Sumption M (2021) Migrants on 10-year routes to settlement in the UK. Available at: https://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/migrants- on-ten-year-routes-to-settlement-in-the- uk/#:~:text=This%20briefing%20looks%20at%20migrants,rather%20than%20the%20us ual%20five.&text=Most%20migrants%20with%20permission%20to,to%20settle%20aft er%20five%20years. (migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk) [Accessed: 15 December 2023].
[8] Mort, L, Whitaker-Yilmaz, J, Morris, M, and Shah, A (2023) A punishing process: Experiences of people on the 10-year route to settlement. Available at: https://www.ippr.org/files/2023-03/10-year-route-march23.pdf (ippr.org) [Accessed: 15 December 2023].

Image: https://www.trusselltrust.org/2019/11/06/working-people-at-food-banks/ [Accessed: 30 December 2023]