Financial assistance
If you have not yet received a decision from the Home Office, have submitted or waiting for a decision about your appeal or are making a completely fresh claim within the immigration rules (if you have not been assessed as All Rights Exhausted), you will not be eligible for welfare benefits and will be continue to be supported financially in the following ways:
- weekly subsistence payments in line with welfare benefits
- weekly accommodation and utility costs
- contribution towards Further Education College costs
- you could be asked to pay for mainstream further education courses post eighteen
Entry Level courses in English, Math's and ESOL are free up until the age of 19. The idea is that everyone, including you, will play a part in preparing for your move from care. Regarding your immigration matters, you may need to make further applications to the Home Office regarding your immigration status in the UK. You will need to check with your solicitor if you have the right to work in the UK.
The local council will ensure that you are supported to regularise your immigration status/ naturalisation/ passport in the UK before you reach the age of 18. Financial assistance for chargeable Home Office applications is based on a needs assessment post 18. You must have indefinite leave to remain to apply for permanent social housing in Southend-on-Sea.