Question
Her Majesty's Government what is the average time taken over the past 12 months for issuing decisions on applications from asylum seekers for section 95 accommodation and subsistence support.
Answered on
20 July 2017
This answer is a correction from the original answer.
Asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute can apply for free accommodation and cash support to cover their essential living needs whilst their cases are considered.
If they have an emergency need for accommodation they can ask to be put in initial accommodation whilst their support applications are being processed and the vast majority of such requests are processed on the same day. We aim to resolve Section 95 applications received from people in Initial Accommodation within 3 days and other applications from people staying in private accommodation within 10 days. All cases are considered on their own merits, in some cases applicants are asked to provide further information before a decision on eligibility can reached. Information on the average length of time between asylum support application and payment is not routinely collected and could only be provided by examination of individual case records, which would result in disproportionate cost.
Original answer
Asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute can apply for free accommodation and cash support to cover their essential living needs whilst their cases are considered.
If they have an emergency need for accommodation they can ask to be put in initial accommodation whilst their support applications are being processed and the vast majority of such requests are processed on the same day. We aim to resolve Section 95 applications received from people in Initial Accommodation within 3 days and other applications from people staying in private accommodation within 10 days. All cases are considered on their own merits, in some cases applicants are asked to provide further information before a decision on eligibility can reached. Information on the average length of time between asylum support application and payment is not routinely collected and could only be provided by examination of individual case records, which would result in disproportionate cost.