Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of EU citizens in receipt of benefits and who have yet to apply for Settled Status live in (a) Lewisham, Deptford constituency and (b) London.

The Government is using every possible channel to encourage everyone who is eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) to apply.

The Home Office is currently working with HMRC and DWP to send letters to EU, EEA and Swiss citizens who receive benefits, but it appears are yet to apply to the EUSS. These letters seek to encourage recipients to apply to the EUSS to protect their existing rights in the UK before the deadline of 30 June 2021.

Our work is looking at benefits claimants across the UK and we will write out again to those people who have still not made an application after the deadline passes next week.

As of 31 May, there have been more than 5.6 million applications and more than 5 million grants of status. The Home Office urges anyone eligible for the EUSS to apply before the 30 June deadline to ensure their rights are protected following the end of the grace period.