Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to increase the period for which refugees continue to receive asylum support after receiving a positive decision on their asylum application to 50 days on account of issues with gaining National Insurance numbers within the current 28 days.

There are no plans to increase the period to 50 days.

If an asylum seeker receiving support from the Home Office is granted refugee status they are given notice that their support will stop 28 days later and provided with a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). The BRP is the main document they need to prove their eligibility to take employment or apply for benefits from the Department of Work and Pensions. Additionally, under new arrangements the Home Office offers the refugee assistance to make a benefits claim by arranging an appointment with a local DWP office.

The Home Office also issues the refugee with a national insurance number (NINO). Possession of a NINO at this stage is not essential to make a benefits application as the DWP can provide one as part of the benefits claim process. We have, however, been working to ensure that the NINO is issued at the same time as the BRP and plan to implement a new process in the new year whereby the number is printed on the BRP.