The government is to go nationwide with a scheme that aims to speed up the transition of successful asylum seekers into the mainstream benefits system.
Speaking on 27 January during a debate on the Asylum and Immigration Bill, immigration minister Beverley Hughes said plans were being drawn up to roll out nationwide a pilot scheme in Liverpool that gives asylum seekers National Insurance numbers at the same time as leave to stay.

The move should allow refugees to access housing benefit more quickly, preventing the cases of homelessness caused by applicants being forced to leave the accommodation provided for them during the asylum process.

Currently, refugees have 28 days to leave following a successful decision.

Hughes said: "This will give people the full benefit of the 28 days, so they can quickly take advantage of mainstream benefits."

Housing providers have been lobbying for a series of measures to help house successful refugees (HT 23 January, page 8).

However, not all are convinced that the government scheme will solve the problem. A spokeswoman for homelessness charity Shelter said: "Having a National Insurance number does not of itself solve this problem."

Source

Housing Today