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No Recourse for Public Funds

Some migrant families and adults have a No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition on their visas. This means they are not eligible to access most benefits such as Universal Credit or housing assistance. You can check to see if you have access to public funds by looking at your immigration documents. Further information is available here: Check if your immigration status lets you get benefits and help with housing - Citizens Advice

Gloucestershire County Council is committed to providing support for those families with children under 18 who have NRPF. If you have NRPF and are experiencing financial hardship please contact us at nrpf@gloucestershire.gov.uk. Additionally, you can check with us if you are unsure whether you are eligible for support.

If you are an adult without children under 18, have additional care and support needs and are subject to NRPF you may be eligible for support from Adult Social Care at Gloucestershire County Council. Please contact the Adult Social Care Helpdesk. Further information can be found at NRPF Network.

If you have made an asylum claim in the UK and have no money or nowhere to stay you can apply for asylum support. Migrant Help is a charity that can help you apply for asylum support. Call Migrant Help on 0808 8010 503.

Please see the ‘Helpful Links’ page for further information about organisations and website that can help you.

Certified Immigration Advisers – It is important that you find a regulated immigration adviser to protect you from dishonest and incorrect advice.

The UK Government has guidance on finding a registered immigration adviser here: Find an immigration adviser: Search for an adviser - GOV.UK

Certified Immigration Advisers – It is important that you find a regulated immigration adviser to protect you from dishonest and incorrect advice.

The UK Government has guidance on finding a registered immigration adviser here: Find an immigration adviser: Search for an adviser - GOV.UK

 

GCC web pages

Gloucestershire Virtual Family Hub – website with lots of information and support for families. Timetables of activities for children and families.

Domestic Abuse - links to support available in Gloucestershire and nationally.

Adult Social Care Helpdesk – information and advice for adults requiring care and support.

Free School Meals (FSM) – information about free school meals available to school age children in Gloucestershire.

Holiday Activities Fund (HAF) – a programme offering activities and food to children who are eligible for free school meals in Gloucestershire.

 

External organisations

Citizens Advice – provides specialist free immigration advice.

 

NRPF Network – provides information and guidance for people with NRPF or practitioners supporting them. Additionally, they have a  web tool to find out what options are available for migrant NRPF families needing housing and financial support.

 

Right to Remain - works with communities, groups and organisations across the UK to provide information, resources, training and assistance to help people to establish their right to remain. Particularly useful is the Right to Remain Toolkit which is a practical guide to the UK immigration and asylum system.

 

Rights of Women – specialist advice for women who are survivors of domestic abuse with NRPF. You should seek advice with them (or another registered immigration adviser) before making any applications for support such as the Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession (MVDAC).

 

Project 17 - The help social services give to families with children is sometimes called section 17 support. The charity “Project 17” has a guide to support for families with NRPF which includes education, NHS care, legal aid, child maintenance, nursery, free school meals, support for pregnant people and more.

 

The Unity Project – Provide appointments and workshops for people with NRPF to help them make Change of Conditions applications for recourse to public funds.

 

Migrant Help – a charity which helps you apply for asylum support. You can apply for asylum support if you have made an asylum claim in the UK and have no money or anywhere to stay while the Home Office looks at your asylum application.

 

International Care Network (ICN) – advice and support, including immigration advice regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA).

Certified Immigration Advisers – It is important that you find a regulated immigration adviser to protect you from dishonest and incorrect advice.

The UK Government has guidance on finding a registered immigration adviser here: Find an immigration adviser: Search for an adviser - GOV.UK

 

GCC web pages

Gloucestershire Virtual Family Hub – website with lots of information and support for families. Timetables of activities for children and families.

Domestic Abuse - links to support available in Gloucestershire and nationally.

Adult Social Care Helpdesk – information and advice for adults requiring care and support.

Free School Meals (FSM) – information about free school meals available to school age children in Gloucestershire.

Holiday Activities Fund (HAF) – a programme offering activities and food to children who are eligible for free school meals in Gloucestershire.

 

External organisations

Citizens Advice – provides specialist free immigration advice.

 

NRPF Network – provides information and guidance for people with NRPF or practitioners supporting them. Additionally, they have a  web tool to find out what options are available for migrant NRPF families needing housing and financial support.

 

Right to Remain - works with communities, groups and organisations across the UK to provide information, resources, training and assistance to help people to establish their right to remain. Particularly useful is the Right to Remain Toolkit which is a practical guide to the UK immigration and asylum system.

 

Rights of Women – specialist advice for women who are survivors of domestic abuse with NRPF. You should seek advice with them (or another registered immigration adviser) before making any applications for support such as the Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession (MVDAC).

 

Project 17 - The help social services give to families with children is sometimes called section 17 support. The charity “Project 17” has a guide to support for families with NRPF which includes education, NHS care, legal aid, child maintenance, nursery, free school meals, support for pregnant people and more.

 

The Unity Project – Provide appointments and workshops for people with NRPF to help them make Change of Conditions applications for recourse to public funds.

 

Migrant Help – a charity which helps you apply for asylum support. You can apply for asylum support if you have made an asylum claim in the UK and have no money or anywhere to stay while the Home Office looks at your asylum application.

 

International Care Network (ICN) – advice and support, including immigration advice regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA).

People who are subject to NRPF who experience domestic abuse may be eligible for support from social services at Gloucestershire County Council.

Adults without children under 18 should contact the Adult Social Care Helpdesk.

Adults with children under 18 should contact Children’s Services.

Some people may be eligible for the Migrant Victim of Domestic Abuse Concession (MVDAC). It is essential to seek advice from a registered immigration adviser before applying for the concession.

There are also other organisations who may be able to provide people with NRPF with information and advice.

Rights of Women - telephone helplines for women who need advice about family law, criminal law, and immigration and asylum issues.

NRPF Network – information and advice for survivors of domestic abuse.

Domestic Abuse - links to support available in Gloucestershire and nationally.

Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service (GDASS) – Support and Advice. There is also a Helpline.

People who are subject to NRPF who experience domestic abuse may be eligible for support from social services at Gloucestershire County Council.

Adults without children under 18 should contact the Adult Social Care Helpdesk.

Adults with children under 18 should contact Children’s Services.

Some people may be eligible for the Migrant Victim of Domestic Abuse Concession (MVDAC). It is essential to seek advice from a registered immigration adviser before applying for the concession.

There are also other organisations who may be able to provide people with NRPF with information and advice.

Rights of Women - telephone helplines for women who need advice about family law, criminal law, and immigration and asylum issues.

NRPF Network – information and advice for survivors of domestic abuse.

Domestic Abuse - links to support available in Gloucestershire and nationally.

Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service (GDASS) – Support and Advice. There is also a Helpline.

Treatment from the National Health Service (NHS) is not classed as a public fund and can be accessed by people subject to the NRPF condition. However, you may need to pay for some types of treatment.

Primary NHS healthcare is free and accessed through GP practices, NHS walk-in centres and the Emergency Department at hospital.

Dentists, pharmacists and optometrists can be accessed but you may need to pay for their services if you have no exemption based on age, income or medical conditions.

Most types of secondary NHS healthcare are chargeable to people who are ‘overseas visitors’ unless an exemption applies. When applying for leave to remain most people will have paid an Immigration Health Charge which covers secondary healthcare.

Further information is available at NRPF Network – Rights and Entitlements.

Treatment from the National Health Service (NHS) is not classed as a public fund and can be accessed by people subject to the NRPF condition. However, you may need to pay for some types of treatment.

Primary NHS healthcare is free and accessed through GP practices, NHS walk-in centres and the Emergency Department at hospital.

Dentists, pharmacists and optometrists can be accessed but you may need to pay for their services if you have no exemption based on age, income or medical conditions.

Most types of secondary NHS healthcare are chargeable to people who are ‘overseas visitors’ unless an exemption applies. When applying for leave to remain most people will have paid an Immigration Health Charge which covers secondary healthcare.

Further information is available at NRPF Network – Rights and Entitlements.

Early education and childcare can be accessed by any child regardless of their immigration status. However, free childcare depends on the immigration status of the parent(s) and so may not be available to all families. 

If your child is 3 or 4 years old they can receive 15 hours per week of free childcare over 38 weeks per year.

Free childcare is only available for 2-year-olds when:

  • The child has additional needs
  • The family receives Home Office asylum support
  • Their family has no recourse to public funds and a low income

Meals and snacks are not included in the funded early education and childcare offer and parents may be charged for these.

Early education and childcare can be accessed by any child regardless of their immigration status. However, free childcare depends on the immigration status of the parent(s) and so may not be available to all families. 

If your child is 3 or 4 years old they can receive 15 hours per week of free childcare over 38 weeks per year.

Free childcare is only available for 2-year-olds when:

  • The child has additional needs
  • The family receives Home Office asylum support
  • Their family has no recourse to public funds and a low income

Meals and snacks are not included in the funded early education and childcare offer and parents may be charged for these.

Children whose parents have NRPF can access Free School Meals if eligible. In Gloucestershire, we operate an opt-out auto-award approach. This means that your child should automatically receive free school meals if records show they are entitled to them.

If you believe your child is entitled to Free School Meals but they are not receiving them please speak to your school.

To apply you will need an email address and your National Insurance or National Asylum Support Service (NASS) number.

If you need support with your application please contact the team at freeschoolmeals@gloucestershire.gov.uk

Further information is available here: Free school meals | Gloucestershire County Council

Children whose parents have NRPF can access Free School Meals if eligible. In Gloucestershire, we operate an opt-out auto-award approach. This means that your child should automatically receive free school meals if records show they are entitled to them.

If you believe your child is entitled to Free School Meals but they are not receiving them please speak to your school.

To apply you will need an email address and your National Insurance or National Asylum Support Service (NASS) number.

If you need support with your application please contact the team at freeschoolmeals@gloucestershire.gov.uk

Further information is available here: Free school meals | Gloucestershire County Council

The HAF programme provides activities and nutritious food during the school holidays. The programme is open to children in reception to year 11 across Gloucestershire who are eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) and who have NRPF.

The aim of the HAF programme is to support children to eat more healthily, be more active over the school holidays, to have a greater knowledge of health and nutrition and be more engaged with school and other local services.

Please note that the HAF programme does not run in half term holidays. 

For further information and to sign up please follow this link: Holiday activities and food programme (HAF) | Gloucestershire County Council

The HAF programme provides activities and nutritious food during the school holidays. The programme is open to children in reception to year 11 across Gloucestershire who are eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) and who have NRPF.

The aim of the HAF programme is to support children to eat more healthily, be more active over the school holidays, to have a greater knowledge of health and nutrition and be more engaged with school and other local services.

Please note that the HAF programme does not run in half term holidays. 

For further information and to sign up please follow this link: Holiday activities and food programme (HAF) | Gloucestershire County Council