Citizens Advice research finds that almost 1.4 million people in UK are subject to ‘no recourse to public funds’ condition

Charity calls for condition to be lifted during coronavirus pandemic to avoid migrants facing 'impossible choices' concerning their health and that of their families

New research commissioned by Citizens Advice has found that almost 1.4 million people in the UK have been given leave to remain subject to the 'no recourse to public funds' (NRPF) condition.

Setting out the findings of research carried out by the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, Citizens Advice also highlights that the figure of 1.4 million is an increase on previous estimates, based on 2016 data, which put the figure at 1.1 million.

Citizens Advice goes on to say that it has seen a 110 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of people seeking help with NRPF during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and that 82 per cent of people helped with an NRPF issue in the last year were Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background.

Citizens Advice also says that some of the people who have sought help in relation to their NRPF status have faced the choice of returning to work while ill or shielding, or losing their income.

As a result, the charity is calling on the government -

• to temporarily suspend the NRPF condition and the habitual residence test;
• to temporarily suspend the minimum income requirement (of at least £18,600 per year) and the maintenance and accommodation requirements for those renewing family visas; and
• not to move those on a five-year route to settlement whose income has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic onto a ten-year route because they cannot show minimum income.

Commenting on the NRPF figures, Citizens Advice Chief Executive Gillian Guy said -

'The revelation that almost 1.4 million people have no recourse to public funds is shocking. Without the security of the welfare safety net, many have faced and will continue to face impossible choices concerning their health and that of their families.

The government must suspend NRPF rules for the duration of the pandemic. People of colour have already been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Migrants who are overwhelmingly from Black, Asian or from other minority ethnic backgrounds backgrounds should not have to take unnecessary risks as lockdown is reduced. Anyone experiencing hardship caused by the pandemic should not see any impact on their long-term immigration status.'

For more information, see Citizens Advice reveals nearly 1.4m have no access to welfare safety net from citizensadvice.org.uk