Immigrants: Coronavirus

(asked on 2nd November 2020) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to suspend No Recourse to Public Funds conditions for the duration of the November 2020 covid-19 lockdown.


Answered by
Chris Philp Portrait
Chris Philp
Minister of State (Home Office)
This question was answered on 11th November 2020

The Government remains committed to protecting vulnerable people and has acted decisively to ensure that we support everyone through this pandemic.

We have?introduced a?range of measures?to ensure people can stay safe and many of these are available for those with a?no recourse to public funds (NRPF) condition.

The Coronavirus job retention scheme, self-employment income support and statutory sick pay are not classed as public funds for immigration purposes. Contribution-based benefits are also not classed as public funds for immigration purposes.

The Government has made in excess of £4.3 billion of funding to local authorities in England, and additional funding under the Barnett formula to the devolved administrations to enable them to respond to Covid-19 pressures across all the services they deliver, including services helping the most vulnerable.

We have launched a new scheme in England, through which local authorities can make a £500 discretionary payment to individuals who have been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, either because they have tested positive for Covid-19 or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive. This is available to those who are employed or self-employed who are unable to work from home and will, therefore, lose income as a result. Those with NRPF are eligible for this scheme.

Migrants with leave under the Family and Human Rights routes can apply to have the NRPF restriction lifted by making a ‘change of conditions’ application if there has been a change in their financial circumstances. Applications are being dealt with swiftly and compassionately.

In light of the support that is available to those with NRPF, we do not believe it is necessary to suspend the NRPF condition.

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