Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to support digitally excluded people to make late applications to the EU Settlement Scheme.

In line with the Citizens’ Rights Agreements, there remains scope, indefinitely, for a person eligible for status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) to make a late application to the scheme where there are reasonable grounds for their failure to meet the deadline applicable to them.

As the Government has made clear, the guidance published on 1 April is not exhaustive and we will take a pragmatic and flexible approach to considering late applications to the EUSS in light of the particular circumstances of each case. This will include where the person is vulnerable and cases of bereavement, destitution or inability due to COVID-19 to access support in person.

There remains a wide range of support available for applicants, including from 72 organisations across the UK grant-funded by the Home Office to help vulnerable people apply to the EUSS. Additional support is also available for those who do not have the appropriate access, skills or confidence to apply online through Assisted Digital, which can offer assistance over the telephone.