Asylum Support of £37.75 per week can usually be received whilst claiming asylum. 

You can get extra money if you are pregnant or have young children. See this website for more information: https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Your-Situation/A-Migrant/Asylum-Seekers/UK-Visas-and-Immigration-support

If your asylum claim is turned down/you have not started an asylum claim

If your claim is rejected or else you have not started a claim, you will not have access to any benefits or government funds. This can mean you are considered ‘destitute’. You might be able to get help from certain charities. Manchester Refugee Support Network run a destitution service, which you can find details of here: http://mrsn.org.uk/mrsn-destitute-project/The Red Cross can also sometimes help: https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help/get-help-as-a-refugee

You might also be able to get food from Food Banks and/or Soup Kitchens. Some food banks need more paperwork than others, so be aware of this. Food banks/pantries for destitute asylum seekers or refugees will probably be the best ones, but others will likely help, too. Sometimes local churches have their own food banks with less paperwork than the big national organisations (such as Trussel Trust).

LISG can sometimes help, so please let a volunteer know if you are destitute. goes here

 If you have your stay, then you can usually claim full benefits, unless there is a clause in your leave to remain which says that you do not have recourse to public funds (if this applies to you, you can try and get this overturned with the help of a solicitor). For more detailed information see: https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Your-Situation/A-Migrant/Asylum-Seekers/After-the-asylum-decision

This includes benefits for those seeking work, as well as benefits for those who are unable to work due to a health condition or disability. Claiming benefits can be complicated, so please see below for further information and links to help you claim.

See the benefits calculator to find out what you might be entitled to: https://www.adviceuk.org.uk/turn2us-benefits-calculator/

Universal Credit is a monthly benefit you can claim if you're on a low income and need extra support with living and housing costs.

If you haven’t already, you should check you’re eligible for Universal Credit.

To receive this benefit you will be expected to be looking for work.

You will have regular appointments where your Work Coach will ask how your job search is going. You will be expected to fill in an online ‘journal’ of your progress and to meet with your Work Coach regularly. The amount of time you are expected to spend looking for work and the amount you will meet with your Work Coach will be included in what is called your ‘claimant commitment’. This will be decided between you and your Work Coach in your first meetings and recorded on your online Universal Credit portal.

In the past, separate payments were made for living costs and housing, but now Universal Credit pays these things together. Universal Credit (mostly) replaced: Income-Based Job Seeker's Allowance (JSA);  Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA);  Income Support; Working Tax Credit; Child Tax Credit; and Housing Benefit.

If you and your partner live together ‘as though you are married’ (i.e. you share living costs), or if you are in a civil partnership or marriage, then you have to apply as a couple.

You usually apply for Universal Credit online. First, set up an online account here. 

You will use this to apply for and manage your Universal Credit. You can apply by phone if you do not have access to the internet or cannot use the internet at all, by calling 08003285644.

For online applications:

When signed in to your online application, you will need to complete 4 steps before you can get Universal Credit: 

1. Answer questions about your situation on your ‘to-do list’

2. Confirm your identity - online or in person

3. Book an appointment at your Jobcentre

4. Attend your appointment

For your to-do list, you will be asked about your rent/housing situation, your income, savings, childcare provider (if applicable), and bank account. You can use a friend’s bank account to receive your first payment, but after that you will need your own bank account.

The Universal Credit team might phone you after you’ve sent your application if they need more information, or to verify your identity.

When you have applied online, you will need to book an interview at your local Jobcentre. You will need to book this within a week, or else you might have to start your application for Universal Credit again.

To book your interview, check the ‘to-do list’ section of your Universal Credit account. There will be an item called ‘prepare for your appointment’, where you can choose which documents to bring to the Jobcentre interview. If you don’t have anything on the list, select ‘I do not have any of these’ - this will mean you’ll be asked more questions at your interview.

The phone number you need to book your interview will appear after you’ve chosen which evidence you’ll take with you.

Coronavirus – If you can’t go to a Jobcentre you’ll be able to complete your claim online.

The Universal Credit Interview

Take photo ID to your interview

You’ll be asked for at least one piece of photo ID. This includes either a passport or biometric residence permit (this will change in July 2021). You will also be asked for any statements or bills which you said you'd take with you, as well as anything else that helps prove your identity.

You won't get your first Universal Credit payment until you've provided all the documents, but don’t worry if you don’t have all the documents you need - you will need to answer more questions at the Jobcentre.

If you can’t, or you forget to take some documents, you will need to take them to your Jobcentre within 1 month of the interview. You could also post the extra/forgotten documents to the Jobcentre - ask for the address at your interview.

If you live with your partner they'll have their own interview. They'll also need to take documents proving their details - for example, even if you've already taken your rent agreement, they will need to take it, too.

Take your housing details to your interview

If you rent privately, you will be asked for the amount of rent you pay and your landlord’s address - you will be asked for your tenancy agreement or a recent rent statement. If you don't have a tenancy agreement, ask your landlord for a copy, or for a letter confirming your rent.

If you rent from your local council or housing association, you don’t need to take evidence of your housing costs to your interview. The DWP will get in touch with your landlord for evidence.

If you own your home, you’ll need to provide evidence of this. This could be a mortgage agreement or bank statements showing the payment of a mortgage.

You won’t get universal credit for mortgage payments, but you might be able to get a loan to help with interest payments on your mortgage.

Take information about your income and savings to your interview

This includes payslips from any work, details of work you are going to start soon, other benefits you get, a bank statement for any savings you have, and so on. If unsure, check your ‘to-do’ list. 

If you have children

You be asked for birth certificates for your children - if you've lost a certificate, you can order a new birth certificate on GOV.UK, but you'll have to pay a fee for this. 

You will also be asked for: evidence of any childcare costs - an invoice or a receipt from a nursery or registered childminder - and your Child Benefit reference number, if you have one. You can find your reference number on any letters you have about Child Benefit. The reference number starts with 'CHB' and is made up of 8 numbers and 2 letters - like: 'CHB12345678 AB'. Call the Child Benefit Office on 0300 200 3100 if you don’t know the reference number.

It will usually take 5 weeks to get your first Universal Credit payment, but you can ask to have some money paid sooner. 

Getting an advance payment

You should ask for an advance payment if you don’t think you’ll have enough money to live on between applying and your first payment. Advanced payments are a loan, and you will have to pay it back over a period of time that is agreed with the government. You will not pay any interest on this loan.

You can ask for an advance payment by asking your work coach at your first Universal Credit interview, applying through your online account, or calling the Universal Credit helpline. However, you can’t ask for an advance online or by calling the helpline unless you’ve had your first Universal Credit interview.

When you have started to get Universal Credit, the government will automatically take repayments from your Universal Credit until you’ve paid the loan back. They’ll tell you how much the repayments will be and how long it will take for you to pay it back.

You can spend up to 12 months paying an advance back. The DWP shouldn’t ask you to pay it back sooner than this if you can’t afford it - tell your work coach if the repayments will cause you hardship. You can ask to pay it back quicker if you want to.

If you're refused an advance payment

You can ask the DWP to look at the decision again if they won’t give you an advance payment. It will help if you can give new evidence or show that your circumstances have changed since your first request.

Universal Credit payments:

You’ll usually get a single Universal Credit payment every month. This will be paid directly into your bank, building society or credit union account. If you make a joint claim as a couple, you’ll get one payment between the two of you.

Tell the Job Centre if you want the payments to go to one of you or be split between you (the Job Centre doesn’t have to agree).

Some of your Universal Credit will be for your housing costs - called a 'housing element.'  You’ll usually be expected to pay this directly to your landlord yourself.

If your application for Universal Credit is refused

If you disagree with the decision about your Universal Credit claim, you can ask the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to change it. You’ll need to ask for ‘mandatory reconsideration’ - this means the DWP will look at the decision again.

You need to contact the DWP within one month of the date of the decision.

There are four ways you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration. You can: write a message in your Universal Credit online account, if you have one; fill in a CRMR1 mandatory reconsideration form - which you can find on www.gov.uk - and send it to the address on the top of your decision letter; write a letter to the DWP - send it to the address on the decision letter; call the number on the decision letter if you’re near the deadline - you should write to the DWP after you call explaining your case.

When you ask for the mandatory reconsideration you should include the date of the decision, reasons why you disagree, your name, address and National Insurance number.

You might need to show when you sent your letter, so ask the Post Office for free proof of postage.

If you’ve missed the 1 month deadline You can still ask for a mandatory reconsideration, as long as it’s within 13 months of the decision.

You’ll need to give a good reason for why you couldn’t ask within the 1 month deadline - for example because you were seriously ill, or you split up from your partner.

You need to explain to the DWP: why you missed the deadline; why the decision is wrong; why it’s important they change the decision. The DWP can refuse your request for a mandatory reconsideration if it's late.

If the DWP don’t change their mind and you still disagree

You can take your challenge to an independent tribunal if you still disagree with the DWP or if they won’t let you make a late mandatory reconsideration request.

The tribunal will look at your arguments and make a decision. They’re overseen by a judge and separate from the DWP. Get independent help from the Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) if you can, by calling 0800 144 844.

if you are unable to work due to long-term illness or disability

You can claim Universal Credit if you have a long-term health condition or disability which prevents you from working. 

Health conditions and disabilities can include things like mental health problems (anxiety, depression, PTSD, or other conditions), being autistic, having a learning disability, and so on, as well as physical conditions. Anything which prevents you from working, medium- or long-term. 

This is not for short-term conditions, such as the flu, or a broken leg: for these you would instead get a sick note from the doctor, to excuse you from seeking work. 

You can apply for Universal Credit here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-universal-credit

If you are making a new claim for universal credit and are unable to work, then you should apply for universal credit online. When you are contacted by your ‘Work Coach’, tell them that you are unable to work due to a health condition/disability. If you tell your Work Coach this in person or on the phone, it might help if you take somebody along to your meeting, to help you feel confident (or have the phone on loudspeaker and a trusted friend or worker with you).

If you are already on universal credit and become unable to work, you should tell your work coach that you are unable to work by using your online ‘journal’.

In both cases, you should then receive a form in the post asking you about your health conditions. This form is called the UC50 form.

On this form you will be asked about how you cope with activities such as walking, communicating, reading, etc. Sometimes this form can feel confusing, or you might not understand why you are being asked certain questions.

There is a guide to filling in UC50 work capability forms here: https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/completing-capability-work-questionnaire

When you answer the questions, it is important to think about whether you can do the activity safely, to an ‘acceptable’ standard, as often as you need to, and in a reasonable time.

For example, you might not think of depression as something which affects walking, but if your depression is so severe that you are sometimes unable to move, or you move very slowly, then your ability to walk ‘varies’ i.e. you are not able to do it as often as you need to and in a reasonable time. It might be a good idea to have somebody else who knows your health condition to help you fill in the forms - it can be hard to know what kinds of things the DWP want to know about, and having somebody else who has a good knowledge of your condition can help.

If you need help with filling in your form, you can get it from either a support worker who is already in your life, and who knows about these forms, or else from charities such as Mind (the mental health charity) or the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).

For each question, you will receive a certain number of ‘points’ based on how difficult you find the task. A list of the points available for each activity are here: https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/wca-limited-capability-work-assessment-descriptors

You will have to send the form back within 4 weeks, but if you need more time due to issues with your health or disability, then you can ask for an extension. You should ask for an extension either on your online Universal Credit ‘journal’ or by ringing up (or somebody else ringing up for you) the Universal Credit helpline:  0800 328 5644.

Get a photocopy or take pictures of the form before you send it off, so you have a record of the answers you gave.

After you have sent off your form, you will usually get a letter inviting you to a health assessment. Due to Covid, this will currently happen on the telephone. In more ordinary times, this will happen face-to-face at a benefits health assessment centre.

It is important to remember that the people who do the health assessments work for the benefits service – they are assessing you from the moment they meet you (whether on the phone or in person) and every question is a part of the assessment. For example, they will ask questions which seem like small-talk questions such as “how was your journey here today?”, but these are part of the assessment. Do not be tempted to give a small-talk, “polite” answer, such as “fine, thank you”, if you actually found the journey very difficult. 

They will usually ask you to describe how your health condition or disability affects you, in your own words. They are looking to give ‘points’ for each of the questions you were asked on the UC50 form, so it is good to remind yourself of these questions before the meeting, so that you do not leave anything out.

The process can feel invasive and stressful for some people. If you feel able to, it is important to take somebody with you to support you. The supporter can be a support worker, a mental health nurse, a good friend, or a partner. 

The supporter is allowed to help you to answer questions and they are allowed to ask the assessor questions, too. One good question to ask, if you are unsure that you are being understood correctly is “I am unsure if I explained that right, can you tell me what you have written down?”. This helps to keep the process clear for everybody. 

If the meeting is on the phone, then the assessor can bring your supporter onto the call, by ringing them and creating a conference call. You must ask for this as soon as you answer the phone to the assessor. 

You can also ask (in advance) for the meeting to be recorded. This can help you if you need to appeal the decision later on. 

After the assessment, the assessor will write a report and send it to the benefits department with their opinion of whether or not you are eligible for Universal Credit at the Limited Capacity for Work (and Work Related Activity) rate. You will receive a letter within a few weeks informing you of their decision. If they have rejected your claim, you can appeal the decision, and must do so within a month.

If you are found to be unable to work, you will be placed into one of two ‘groups’. Either you will be assessed as having ‘Limited Capability for Work’ or else ‘Limited Capability for Work and Work Related Activities’. 

The first group ( ‘Limited Capability for Work’) get the standard allowance for Universal Credit (the same rate as if you were job seeking), but will not be expected to look for work. You will be expected to prepare for work at some point in the future, though, and this will be your ‘claimant commitment’. You might still have to meet with a ‘work coach’ to talk about how you are preparing for work. 

The second group (‘Limited Capability for Work and Work Related Activities’) get an extra £328.32 per month on top of the standard allowance, and do not have to look for work or prepare to get into work. 

If you think you have been put into the wrong group, you can appeal this.

Personal Independence Payment (often shortened to ‘PIP’) is a benefit for those who have long-term health conditions or disabilities which affect their day-to-day life and/or mobility. You can claim this whether you are in or out of work and it does not affect any other benefits. This benefit is to help people have a greater independence in their lives and more ability to do daily activities/move around. For example, by paying for support/therapy, or buying equipment to help them. 

There are two categories of PIP payment: 1) daily living and 2) mobility. These are paid in different amounts, depending on how impacted your daily life and/or mobility are by your illness or disability.

In order to claim PIP follow the instructions here. 

To claim, you first need to call or write to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and ask for a form to fill in (see the above site for details). On this call, you will be asked some basic questions about yourself. You are allowed to ask somebody to be brought into the call to help you to answer questions. You will then be sent a form in the post to fill in. Do get help with filling out this form if you are in any doubt as to what the questions mean. You can get detailed information on how to fill in this form here at Disability Rights UK. 

You will be asked how well you perform tasks in the following categories:

(Daily Living) Preparing food; Taking nutrition; Managing therapy or managing a health condition; Washing and bathing; Managing toilet needs or incontinence; Dressing and undressing; Communicating verbally; Reading and understanding signs, symbols, and words; Engaging with other people face to face; Making budget decisions. 

(Mobility) Planning and following journeys; Moving around.

You are only considered able to do something if you are able to do it safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly, and in a reasonable time. You are also only considered able to do something if you can do it more than 50% of the time. Bear this in mind when filling out your form.

Send your form off within 28 days of receiving it. If it is going to be late, give the reason why in the additional information box and consider ringing the PIP line to tell them that you will be sending it late and why. Reasonable excuses include that you were not well enough to complete the form, you did not have sufficient support to fill in the form, or there was an emergency/disaster that stopped you from being able to fill in the form.

Always take photocopies or photographs of your answers before sending off the form, so that you can refer back to it. 

After the form has been received by the DWP, it is highly likely that you will be called to a face-to-face or phone assessment. At the moment (during covid-19 restrictions) this will be a phone assessment. You are allowed to have somebody else on the phone to support you and if you would like the assessor to bring your support worker or friend into the call to help you, then say this straight away. 

For each activity that you cannot do when required, and to a reasonable standard, you will receive a certain number of points. The number of points you are awarded decides how much PIP you will get. 

If you disagree with the decision about how much (if any) PIP you get, you can appeal. See how to appeal here.

You might also be able to get a Refugee Integration Loan. If you get a loan you will pay it back through regular payments, but it is interest free - you only pay back what you have borrowed.

You can apply for an integration loan if you: are a refugee; have been given humanitarian protection (after 11 June 2007); are a dependant of a refugee or someone here under humanitarian protection.

Download and fill in the application form Refugee integration loan: How to apply - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

You will be asked for your National Insurance (NI) number - if you do not have one, you can apply for one at your local Jobcentre Plus. They will ask for your biometric residence permit, immigration status document or passport and a bank statement or letter confirming your bank details.

Scan or photograph the completed form and supporting documents and email them to integrationloan@homeoffice.gov.uk.

Loans are usually paid into your bank or building society account.

Repaying the loan

You will not usually have to start repaying the loan until 6 weeks after you get the money. How much and how you pay depends on your circumstances. For example, you may have to pay more and in a shorter time if you start working.

Your loan will not usually affect any income-related benefits you get unless you have more than £6,000 in savings.

Carer’s allowance is a benefit for people who regularly spend 35 hours or more a week caring for a disabled person. 

The benefit is paid to the carer, not the disabled person. If you are getting either rate of the daily living component of PIP, your carer may claim carer’s allowance. 

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Employment Support Allowance is what people used to apply for if they were unable to work due to health conditions or disability. 

You can only claim this now if you were previously getting something called the Severe Disability Premium (SDP). 

Usually, this will not apply, and you should apply for Universal Credit and state that you are unable to work.

You can only make a new claim for income or contribution-based JSA if you’re getting, or recently stopped getting a benefit with a severe disability premium (SDP).

If you have had SDP, have had your stay for a few years, and had permission to work you may be able to claim 'new style' JSA.

You can usually get ‘new style’ JSA for up to 6 months if you:-

1. have worked and paid Class 1 National Insurance in the last 2 to 3 years

2. Meet the basic conditions

• Working less than 16 hours a week

• Available to work full time

• Actively looking for full-time work

• Not in full-time education

• Not claiming Income Support

• Don’t have an illness or disability which means you can’t work

You can’t get JSA if you’re either:

• Under 18, but there are some exceptions

• Self employed

If you’re applying for new style JSA it doesn’t matter what country you’re from.

If you live on your own or all the people living with you are under 18 you can claim 25% off your Council Tax. A discount of 25% is also available if you have a live-in carer, who is NOT your partner, providing you with at least 35 hours of care each week.

If you are a student living alone or with other students, or you are considered severely mentally impaired, you do not have to pay council tax. You should tell the council if this applies to you.

If you or a person living with you (including a child) is substantially and permanently disabled, the council may reduce the council tax payable by putting your home in a lower tax level. 

If you are in receipt of benefits such as Universal Credit, JSA, or ESA, it is likely that you will only pay a percentage of your council tax bill. You can check for free with your Council whether you can get Housing Benefit and Council Tax discounts. 

Details of how to contact your local council to make the claim should be on your Council Tax Bill, or contact Apply for Council Tax Reduction - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Your local council might give you vouchers to help pay for day-to-day essentials like:

• A hot meal

• Second-hand furniture

• Household appliances, for example a cooker

This help is known as 'welfare assistance'. Each council runs their own scheme. The help on offer and who can get it varies. Find your local council on GOV.UK and ask them if they run a welfare assistance scheme that could help you.

You don’t have to be getting benefits to get help from your local council.

https://secure.manchester.gov.uk/info/200008/benefits_and_support/6302/apply_for_a_cash_grant_if_you_are_in_financial_crisis 

You might be able to get what's called a 'budgeting loan' for essentials like clothing or a washing machine if you claim certain benefits.

You might be eligible if you get:

• Income Support

• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

• Pension Credit

The loan is interest-free, so you'll only have to pay back what you borrow. You'll usually need to pay back the loan within 2 years.

(check this section on Manchester council website)

Most people can’t make a new claim for Housing Benefit.

You can only make a new claim for Housing Benefit if one of the following applies:

• Yyou’re getting, or recently stopped getting, a benefit with a severe disability premium (SDP) - which is usually a component of E.S.A. if you were in the ‘support group’.

• You, and your partner if you've got one, have reached State Pension age – the state pension age varies so check if you are eligible to get a pension and at what age you can claim it on ww.gov.uk website 

• You or your partner have been getting Pension Credit since before 15 May 2019

• You live in temporary accommodation, such as a hostel

• Your landlord is a council, charity or housing association and they give you care or support – for example if you live in sheltered/supported housing.

If you can’t make a claim for Housing Benefit, you might be able to apply for Universal Credit to help with housing costs, instead.