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Asylum seekers can get up to £58.68 per week from the government with a bonus £300 payment for new mothers.
Much like the state pension or Universal Credit, the government has rules on how much money it will give to asylum seekers and when those claiming asylum in the UK will be paid the money. Even those who have been refused asylum in the UK can still get the money, though they will instead be given the allowance on a pre-paid card.
According to the government, currently asylum seekers can get £49.18 free cash benefits per week, per person per household, to pay for food, toiletries and clothing. Those who get food provided by their accommodation are only eligible for a £9.95 per person base rate instead.
The base rate is increased for pregnant women or mothers to young children. Pregnant women are given an extra £5.25 per week, or the mother of a baby under 1 qualifies for £9.50 extra per week, or a child aged 1 to 3 qualifies for £5.25 extra per week taking the total to a possible £58.68 per week, or £254.28 per month.
Those who are pregnant can also apply for a one-off £300 payment if their baby is due in 11 weeks or less, or if mother to a baby under 6 months old.
The money is loaded onto a debit card, which can then be used to withdraw the payment as cash.
Asylum seekers are also given free NHS prescriptions, free dental care, free eyesight tests and help paying for glasses.
This is on top of housing, in a flat, hostel, or bed and breakfast being provided.
Gov.uk explains: “You can ask for somewhere to live, a cash allowance or both as an asylum seeker.
“You’ll be given somewhere to live if you need it. This could be in a flat, house, hostel or bed and breakfast.
“You cannot choose where you live. It’s unlikely you’ll get to live in London or south-east England.
“You’ll usually get £49.18 for each person in your household. This will help you pay for things you need like food, clothing and toiletries.
“Your allowance will be loaded onto a debit card (ASPEN card) each week. You’ll be able to use the card to get cash from a cash machine.”
The site adds that if you’re refused asylum but ‘still eligible for support’, you will get up to £49.18 ‘on a payment card for food, clothing and toiletries’.
It adds: “If you’ve been refused asylum: You can ask for the following if you’re homeless, do not have any money to buy food and you can show that there’s a reason why you cannot leave the UK yet: short-term housing; help with prescriptions for medicine, dental care for your teeth, eyesight tests and glasses; a payment card for food and toiletries.
“You will not be given the payment card without the housing and you will not be given any cash.”
To claim, asylum seekers can apply using an ASF1 form to claim housing and cash support.
Who counts as an asylum seeker?
The government adds: “You must apply for asylum if you want to stay in the UK as a refugee.
“To be eligible, you must have left your country and be unable to go back because you fear persecution.
“You should apply when you arrive in the UK or as soon as you think it would be unsafe for you to return to your own country. Your application is more likely to be refused if you wait.
“When you apply you’ll have a meeting with an immigration officer (known as a ‘screening’).
“After your screening the Home Office will decide if your claim can be considered in the UK. If it can, you’ll have an asylum interview with a caseworker.
“You’ll be told when there’s a decision on your application.
“You can get up to 2 years in prison or have to leave the UK if you give false information on your application.”
