Support for people with No Recourse to Public Funds
No recourse to public funds (NRPF) is a condition imposed on someone’s immigration status under section 115 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. This states that a person has ‘no recourse to public funds’ if they are ‘subject to immigration control’. Individuals with NRPF have no entitlement to:
- certain welfare benefits
- homelessness assistance; and
- an allocation of social housing through the council register.
When a person has leave to enter or leave to remain that is subject to the NRPF condition, the term 'no public funds' will be stated on their residence permit, entry clearance vignette, or biometric residence permit.
Most services in the UK are not classified as public funds which means that people with NRPF are eligible for support from a range of agencies. This includes people who experience domestic abuse.
General Support
People who need support can approach the following agencies:
- Home Office: The Home Office provides support with financial issues and with housing. The Home Office also supports destitute asylum seekers and appeal rights exhausted (ARE) asylum seekers. You can apply here and helplines are available if you need support with an application
- Social Care for Children and Families: Children’s social care may provide support when a child is assessed as being in need. A child is likely to be in need if they are homeless, at risk of becoming homeless, or when the family does not have sufficient resources to meet basic living needs.
- Social Care for Adults: Adult social care may be responsible for providing support to adult asylum seekers with care and support needs who are not accommodated by the Home Office
- Voluntary Agencies: A range of agencies provide support to people with NRPF who are not eligible for support from the other agencies. They can also provide support if you need assistance in addition to support provided by other agencies. Migrant Help is a specialist service and some other services are listed at the end of this document
Specialist Support for Victims of Domestic Abuse
In rare cases, survivors of domestic abuse may not be able to get help from the sources listed above.
In these cases the Support for Migrant Victims Scheme may be able to provide assistance.
Available support includes:
- Safe accommodation for up to 12 weeks. There will also be discretion to award an additional 4 weeks of funds in exceptional cases of hardship.
- Weekly subsistence payments calculated in line with the current rate of support for asylum seekers.
- IDVA support and other appropriate befriending and welfare assistance service to improve safety and well-being outcomes for survivors.
- Signposting to qualified immigration law practitioners to provide advice and representation on settlement options.
For more information in London, contact Southall Black Sisters on 020 8571 0800 or at nrpf@southallblacksisters.co.uk
Other Resources
Support, including helplines, is also available from the following organisations:
