No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)
What does it mean to have no recourse to public funds?
“No recourse to public funds” (NRPF) is a UK immigration condition preventing individuals from accessing most state benefits, tax credits, and local authority housing. Certain types of visas that allow you to live in the UK, including spousal visas, student visas and visitor visas, have the ‘no recourse to public funds’ rule attached. A vulnerable migrant is ‘a person who has no regularised leave to stay in the UK or a person who has limited leave to stay in the UK but does not have any access to public funds’.
Even if you have no recourse to public funds, there is support available if you have experienced domestic abuse.
Support for victim/survivors of domestic abuse with NRPF
Police
No matter what someone’s immigration status is, they have the right to call the police. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call the police on 999.
Domestic abuse services
People with no recourse to public funds who experience domestic abuse can access information and advice from domestic abuse support services. COMPASS is a single point of access to support anyone effected by domestic abuse across Southend, Essex and Thurrock- Helpline: 0330 333 7 444.
Flexible funding
Flexible Funding is an easily accessible financial resource for professionals aiding domestic abuse victims and survivors. For more information please see Essex’s Flexible Funding for Domestic Abuse Assistance
Social services support for families
Accommodation and financial support for families with no recourse to public funds who are destitute or at risk of homelessness. When a parent cannot access benefits and housing assistance due to having no recourse to public funds, their local council may have a duty to provide accommodation and financial support if their child is assessed as being in need by social services.
Social services support for adults
Accommodation and financial support for adults with no recourse to public funds who are destitute or at risk of homelessness. When an adult cannot access benefits and housing assistance due to having no recourse to public funds, their local council may have a duty to provide accommodation and financial support if the adult is assessed as having care and support needs.
Further information and support
It is important that someone receives immigration advice before they submit any immigration application to the Home Office. This includes applications like a Change of Conditions application or the Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession. A person needs to be an accredited professional (e.g legal adviser or solicitor) in order to give any legal advice or submit any immigration application. The Home Office states that, ‘It is a criminal offence for a person to provide immigration advice or services in the UK unless their organisation is regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) or is otherwise covered by the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999’
Support for Migrant Victims Scheme
The Support for Migrant Victims Scheme (SMV) may be able to provide safe accommodation for up to 12 weeks and other assistance to survivors of domestic or gender-related abuse who are destitute and have no recourse to public funds.
The scheme will give priority to ‘survivors who do not currently have an established route to settlement although in some exceptional circumstances bridging support will be available to those who are otherwise eligible for the DDVC [now Migrant Victim of Domestic Abuse concession], asylum support, local authority or other state assistance’.
Referrals to the scheme need to be made by a council, third sector agency, or statutory body. For more information about the eligibility requirements and referral process, see the Southall Black Sisters website.
Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession (formerly DDVC)
The Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession (MVDAC) enables certain people who have leave to enter or remain as a partner to gain access to public funds following a relationship breakdown with their partner due to domestic abuse. For more information on what the options are, including whether the MVDAC is the right route please see Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession | NRPF
Home Office asylum support
The Home Office provides support to people who would otherwise be destitute whilst they await the resolution of their asylum claim. If you are currently seeking asylum in the UK and are in need of further support or advocacy you can see information on help for people seeking asylum.
The No Recourse to Public Funds NRPF Network is a national network safeguarding the welfare of destitute families, adults and care leavers who are unable to access benefits due to their immigration status.
If you need help with an immigration problem, you can contact your nearest Citizens Advice for free and confidential advice
Rights of Women – have three immigration and asylum law advice lines: the EU settlement scheme advice line; immigration and asylum law advice line; and the professionals’ advice line
Shelter – for housing advice
Right to remain – for information on step-by-step guide to the UK asylum and immigration system and to access the Right to Remain Toolkit
Essex University Law Clinic – provides free legal advice to the community
Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants – run a number of helplines providing immigration advice
Latin American Women’s Rights Service (LAWRS) – offer free and confidential specialist services for all Latin American women.
IMECE Women’s Centre – support for Turkish, Kurdish and migrant women
Ashiana Network– offers specialist services for Black and minoritised women, predominantly women from South Asian, Turkish and Middle Eastern communities who have experienced or are at risk of Violence against Women & Girls (VAWG)
Karma Nirvana – run the national Honour Based Abuse Helpline