Migrant Destitution Fund (MDF) and Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) have produced an information sheet about local authority support for destitute families in Greater Manchester. No-one should be forced into destitution because of their immigration status – especially children. The information sheet is therefore aimed at families themselves, and services supporting them, to identify a potential pathway out of destitution.
While people with ‘no recourse to public funds’ (NRPF) cannot access mainstream welfare, they may be eligible for support under section 17 of the Children Act 1989. The information sheet includes:
- What section 17 support should entail, and what people should not be offered
- How to apply and where people can seek advice
- How children’s services will decide what to offer
- How immigration status may affect the support offered, as well as any risks to applying
This follows a community consultation conducted by MDF together with referral partner Equal Education Chances, which found that people were unaware of the support available, had high levels of mistrust in social services, and feared that approaching social services could lead to negative consequences from the Home Office. The information sheet therefore provides transparency about what to expect and addresses people’s fears.
While the Hostile Environment continues to keep children in communities trapped in destitution, MDF and GMIAU hope that this information sheet will empower families to stand up for their rights and begin the journey out of destitution.