‘No recourse to public funds’ condition for migrants is ‘long-established’ and applies ‘in order to protect public funds’, says Prime Minister

Home Secretary will confirm the numbers currently subject to NRPF and the numbers applying to have the condition lifted, Mr Johnson adds

The 'no recourse to public funds' (NRPF) condition for migrants is 'long-established' and applies 'in order to protect public funds', the Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.

Having expressed 'surprise' when giving evidence recently to the House of Commons Liaison Committee that many migrants have not been able to access universal credit during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Mr Johnson has responded to a letter from the Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee Stephen Timms - which asked him to confirm his agreement that support should be available through the benefits system for people with NRPF who would otherwise face destitution - saying - 

'The public interest in migrants being financially independent and not being a burden on the State is long established, and protected by successive governments. NRPF has been a long-standing condition applied to those staying here with a temporary immigration status in order to protect public funds.'

NB - confirming that migrants with leave under the Family and Human Rights routes can apply to have the NRPF restriction lifted by making a 'change of conditions' application if their financial circumstances have altered, Mr Johnson advised that the Home Secretary Priti Patel would be responding separately to Mr Timms about the total number of people currently subject to NRPF and the number who have applied to have the condition lifted in the last year.

Mr Johnson's letter is available from parliament.uk