To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the case for providing help for asylum seekers who lose financial support when their initial application is rejected but who wish to appeal or submit a new application in cases where they had no legal advice for their initial application.
Answered on
16 December 2014
Asylum seekers are supported by the Home Office if they are destitute under Section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. This support continues until all appeal rights have been exhausted and the asylum seeker is either granted leave or the asylum claim refused.
Failed asylum seekers are not usually entitled to support, but where there is a legal or practical obstacle that prevents them from leaving the United Kingdom support is provided under section 4 of the 1999 Act. This includes cases where the person has lodged further submissions which they have asked to be considered as fresh asylum claims.