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The Destitution Trap

Our report The Destitution Trap is the first in-depth national survey on destitution among asylum seekers.

The government’s policy on refused asylum seekers does not work and is forcing thousands into abject poverty and mental suffering.

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Briefing (1 mb)
Executive Summary and Recommendations

• First in-depth, national survey of destitution among asylum seekers.

• 125 interviews with refused asylum seekers who were deliberately excluded from support, or the means to support themselves, as a matter of government policy.

• Interviews took place in nine UK cities (the regions covered by Refugee Action) with the majority in the Midlands (39%), just under a third (29%) in the North West (Liverpool and Manchester), just under a fifth (23%) in the South West, and the remaining 8% in the South East of England

• 91 (72 per cent) were men and 33 (27 per cent) were women, reflecting the proportions of male and female asylum seekers nationally.

Why destitution isn't working

How you can help

Why destitution isn't working

Forced into destitution

Under the present system, financial support and accommodation for asylum seekers is currently cut off 21 days after a final claim for asylum has been refused.

Inhumane

Refused asylum seekers in our towns and cities are being reduced to penniless poverty.

Ineffective

Our research found that far from encouraging asylum seekers to return to their countries of origin, destitution made return less likely.

Why can't they go home?

In practice it is extremely difficult to forcibly remove people to countries where there are serious safety concerns, difficulties in obtaining travel documents or where there is no functioning airport.

Refugee Action believes it is vital that the government maintain contact with refused asylum seekers and that financial support should continue until their cases can be resolved.

Refugee Action and Amnesty International are calling for the government to:

• Ensure that refused asylum seekers remain on the same financial support and accommodation as during the asylum process until their situation is resolved.
• Grant temporary, renewable permission to stay in the country that allows refused asylum seekers, who cannot safely be returned to their countries of origin within six months, to stay in the UK, to work and to access medical care.
• End the long-term limbo of refused asylum seekers still in the UK after several years, by granting them permission to stay in the country, as well as the right to work, to claim benefits and access medical care.
• Ensure that the government’s asylum case-workers build in anti-destitution support measures as part of the so-called 'New Asylum Model' where cases are managed from beginning to end.

How you can help

Your support as a campaigner and/or a financial supporter will help us make real changes to asylum seekers lives.

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