Immigration Solicitors

The chair of Huddersfield-based DASH (Destitute Asylum Seekers Huddersfield) has criticised the government for deciding to end “lifeline” support for destitute children.

Local publisher Examiner reports that asylum seeker Lucy Lucy has said that she does not know how Huddersfield families seeking asylum will be able to live.

Last week, a Home Office change came into force reducing the weekly support rate to cover basic living costs for children.

Ms Lucy supports families seeking asylum in the town – she said that reduced rates under the Asylum Support (Amendment No. 3) Regulations 2015 would make it “impossible” for families seeking safety from persecution to cover basic needs, including food and clothing.

“The money is a lifeline – and we think this reduction will make it impossible for families to live.

“Before, each child under 18 was getting around £51 dependent on their age – and the families we deal with were struggling to manage. I’ve been to people’s houses and looked in their cupboards and found nothing in them.

“One family only had half-a-dozen slices of bread in the house and she was reluctant to give me a proper shopping list – it’s really scary thinking about what will happen to them now.

“Parents will go hungry to feed their children – it’s shameful that people trying to escape persecution are being pushed deeper into poverty.

“The money also pays for essential bus travel for parents to collect their payments in town, to attend GP and hospital appointments, to visit places of worship – and even to get their children to school.

“One family I know has to pay £19.50 a week for passes because their child cannot go to the school nearest to them.”

DASH has teamed up with the Ark Church to host a weekly family drop-in each Friday, to offer support to asylum seekers facing difficulties because of the change.

Ms Lucy said:

“We give them lunch and refreshments generously provided by members of the Ark Church – and are also giving them fresh fruit and vegetables for affected families.

“We only have funding for a couple of months then will have to review the situation but would love more volunteers come help us out.”

A spokesman for the Home Office said:

“The United Kingdom has a long and proud history of offering sanctuary to those who genuinely need our protection.

“Asylum seekers requiring our support are provided with an essential living allowance – which is in addition to free accommodation, including all utility bills and Council Tax, and access to free healthcare and schooling.

“The changes we are making have been drawn up using a tested methodology designed to ensure support levels are sufficient to cover essential living needs.

“They also bring the UK more closely into line with other EU countries.”

Duncan Lewis Immigration Lawyers

Duncan Lewis immigration lawyers are one of the UK’s leading providers of Legal Aid immigration advice and can advise migrants from countries outside the EU on a wide range of immigration matters, including:

• Asylum in the UK
• Asylum appeals
• Human Rights Act
• Illegal entry to the UK
• Modern Slavery Bill
• Right to work in the UK.

For expert legal advice on UK immigration law, call Duncan Lewis immigration lawyers on 020 7923 4020.

For urgent legal help with immigration, call the Duncan Lewis Emergency Hotline on 020 7275 2036, where an immigration lawyer is available 24/7.