Who is an asylum seeker?

An asylum seeker is someone who has submitted an application for refuge and is still waiting for a decision on whether this will be granted.

Once an application for asylum has been granted, an asylum seeker is then recognised as a refugee.

Support for asylum seekers

Asylum seekers must apply to the Home Office UK Border Agency (UKBA) for asylum as soon as they arrive in Britain. UKBA has the responsibility of directly supporting destitute asylum-seeking families and single adults.

While the decision about your asylum application is being made we have a duty to provide care if:

Unaccompanied, asylum-seeking children

Nottinghamshire County Council’s Children and Young People’s Services have a duty to provide care directly to unaccompanied, asylum-seeking children. These services include emergency foster care. For more information see the Children and Young People’s Social Care web pages.

What support is there when refugee status (or asylum) is granted?

Those granted refugee status are entitled to benefits and social care.

Is there any support when refugee status (or asylum) is refused?

If your application for refugee status is refused (failed asylum seekers), any support currently given will stop. This also applies to visa overstayers, as you now have no recourse to public funds (NRPF). However, if you have an assessed community care need which, if not met by the Council, would be a breach of your rights (under the European Convention on Human Rights), you may be able to get social care services.

More information

For more information about asylum issues in Nottinghamshire, visit the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum website.