The Home Office have informed local authorities a significant number of decisions will be made on asylum applications up to 31st December 2023. The Home Office have indicated the majority of decisions will be positive, however negative decisions are included in the number.
A leaflet to has been produced with partners to provide guidance to people seeking asylum and to the services that provide support. Currently the flyer is only available in English, however links and QR codes have been added to the New to Leeds website which provides translation into 26 languages.
Leeds City Council has shared the flyer with:
- Mears to share the leaflet with people living in asylum hotels and in dispersed accommodation.
- Leeds Housing Options
- Statutory services including: DWP, WYP, Health, Community Hubs, Libraries, etc.
Leeds Migration Partnership – Organisations and groups: please share with organisations and groups who may be less familiar with the information engage with people seeking help and support. Attached is a presentation which provides an overview of the process and current priorities for Leeds. It has been written so colleagues and partners in statutory and third sector services can present the information in team meetings and share with frontline staff so they have an background overview of the current situation.
Update on Positive Decisions and Move On support:
- Leeds Housing Options (LHO) receive details and contact information from Mears for people seeking asylum who receive a positive decision. Officers then make contact to provide a homelessness assessment prior to eviction from the Mears accommodation. LHO work intensively to complete homelessness assessment prior to eviction from Mears accommodation. Due to the number of asylum claims currently being processed, delays may be experienced and therefore customers may not be contacted until their eviction date. In the meantime, it may be helpful to complete private rented search and approach LHO for assistance with the deposit but you must approach LHO before signing for a tenancy agreement as help cannot be offered after signing. There are also a lot of pressures on temporary accommodation and not everyone is automatically entitled to temporary accommodation so in the run up to eviction customers are strongly advised to speak to family or friends if they can stay short term and Leeds Housing Options may be able to offer some support.
- DWP are aware of the significant numbers expected to access welfare and benefit support. At present, people who receive a positive decision should access DWP through the usual routes. The councils Migration Team continue to meet with DWP regularly to keep updated on the impact and response. DWP can now open claims for universal credit if service users do not have a BRP, as long as they have the grant letter and Application Registration Card. DWP can only accept both documents together. This is a temporary agreement whilst the backlog is being cleared.
- RETAS are working with Leeds Housing Options and DWP to provide people with move on support. RETAS have a weekly drop on Wednesday’s where a member of LHO team will be available from 11AM – 2PM. Please note the drop-in with LHO are appointment based, customers can book an appointment through RETAS. Customers who approach without an appointment LHO will try to discuss the case on the day, or take contact details for a follow up call within 7 working days.
Contact:
- Should LMP partners have urgent information to share with the council regarding client concerns please contact:
- Pria Bhabra [email protected] or Samantha Powell [email protected]
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