Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to support people with no recourse to public funds who are unable to access support through covid-19 financial support packages.

The Home Office is working closely with other government departments to support people, including migrants with no recourse to public funds, through this pandemic and are confident we have measures in place to support those who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF) at this difficult time.

For those whose employment status precludes access to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-employed Income Support Scheme (neither of which are classed as public funds), other assistance is still available. Statutory sick pay and some other work-related benefits, such as contributory employment and support allowance, are also available to individuals with NRPF who are eligible.

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. The Home Office has recently digitised the application form to make sure it is accessible for those who need to remain at home. Applications are being dealt with compassionately.

In addition, the Government has made in excess of £3.2 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.