Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people (UASC)
If you arrive in the UK seeking asylum without a parent or guardian, you can apply to the Home Office and may be granted discretionary leave for three years or until you’re 17 and a half, whichever comes first.
You can then apply to extend this leave and may have access to public funds, including welfare benefits, while waiting for a decision.
Asylum-seeking young people in the leaving care service have equal access to financial support.
At 18, you will be considered former relevant unless you have not spent enough time in care or have been out of care for more than six months before turning 18.
Your immigration status may affect your access to public funds and education funding.
If you’re over 18 and have not had a decision on your initial asylum application or have an outstanding appeal, you’re entitled to support. If you have humanitarian or refugee status, you’re also entitled to leaving care support and certain benefits.
For additional top-up funds, requests should be made to the corporate parenting manager.
Starting April 2019, if you’re over 18 and have no legal options to stay in the UK (appeal rights exhausted (ARE)), you’ll get a 12-week notice that your financial support will end. This means living expenses support will stop and you will not receive weekly payments from ourselves.
A human rights assessment will be done and if the Home Office allows you to appeal, support will continue until a decision is made. Proof of the new claim is required before restarting support. If your asylum claim is denied, access to public funds will stop immediately.
Leaving care staff will work with the UK border agency and the National Asylum Support Service to provide financial support while you wait for instructions on leaving the country. If you are advised you are ARE, support is withdrawn and only given again if a fresh claim is accepted. You should seek advice from Migrant Help UK
UASC and new homes grant (NHG)
If you are a UASC young person and currently live in locate accommodation, or you have not yet been granted your asylum status, the leaving care service will agree to spend up to £300 from your new homes grant for essential items.
Once you have your asylum status, you may be able to access the full new homes grant amount, minus any amount up to £300 that you may have already spent.