Support for patients deemed no recourse to public funds
February 5, 2018
No recourse to public funds (NRPF) refers to people who are subject to immigration control and/or EEA Nationals that do not satisfy the habitual residency test and have no entitlement to welfare benefits or public housing. This restriction applies to welfare benefits, homelessness assistance and council housing. It does not prevent migrants with NRPF from accessing other publically funded services such as the NHS, although these may be subject to restrictions based on nationality and immigration status.
People with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) are at high risk of homelessness and destitution because they cannot access mainstream housing and welfare benefits.
While they remain NRPF, there are limited housing options available due to their lack of entitlement to housing benefit, local authority homelessness assistance and social housing. In most cases they will be at risk of sleeping rough or sofa surfing.
European Economic Area (EEA) nationals are not subject to immigration control but will not be able to access welfare benefits and homelessness assistance if they fail the right to reside and/or habitual residence tests, which are applied when determining eligibility for these services
EEA nationals can come and go freely within the EEA but in order to access benefits and housing, the EEA national needs to have a right to reside based on employment, self-employment, self-sufficiency etc. With no such right to reside, their access to benefits and housing rights is restricted or refused and they are expected to self-fund.
The habitual residence test (HRT) is carried out on EU nationals who apply for benefits and this will also determine their eligibility for housing. They will need to attend the local authority council offices.
What can we do if a NRPF patient attends A&E or is admitted into hospital?
Access to healthcare is not affected by any means and this should be given without any delay. Accommodation however unfortunately cannot be provided by the hospital homeless team, due to their no recourse status they will not be eligible for social landlord housing. The following information is provided as a guide to assist staff who have NRPF patients presenting at A&E or admitted to the wards.
Does the NRPF patient have any on-going healthcare needs – YES/NO?
YES – Adults requiring care and support due to a disability, illness or mental health condition should be referred straight away to the social care team and/or mental health team.
Under part 1 of the Care Act 2014 individuals with NRPF may be eligible for some support if they satisfy the criteria and eligibility of a social care assessment. Please refer the patient asap as follows:
City Hospital: Telephone: 0121 6756979
Sandwell / Rowley Regis Hospitals: 0121 5692266
Social Services support for adults with care needs:
A patient with NRPF is not prohibited from accessing assistance from their local authority’s social services department because social services assistance is not a public fund for immigration purposes. However, there are some restrictions to this based on nationality and immigration status.
Local authorities are required to provide destitute migrants with NRPF with accommodation and/or financial assistance when statutory duties are engaged. For adults without children, such assistance can only be provided when the NRPF patient has eligible needs for care and support due to a disability, illness or mental health condition.
When an adult has eligible needs the local authority will determine what care and support is required. However, this does not automatically mean a patient with NRPF will receive accommodation. The local authority may only be required to provide accommodation when the care and support that is requires is normally administered in a home environment, or would be effectively useless if the NRPF patient has no home.
NO – Patients that do not have any on-going healthcare needs and that are independent and self-caring will need to attend the local authority council for a habitual residency test to determine whether they qualify for housing and benefit assistance. This will be completed at their local council offices and they will need to attend the following;
City Hospital / Birmingham Area:
The Newtown Neighbourhood Office
New Aston House
Newtown Shopping Centre
Newtown
Birmingham
B19 2SW
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 9am-4.30pm.
Sandwell Hospital / Sandwell Area:
Sandwell Homes
Court House
335-337 High Street
West Bromwich,
B70 8LU.
Opening Hours: Monday- Friday 9am-5pm.
If the NRPF patient has already completed a habitual residency test with the local authority and this has been declined/refused they can be signposted for support to:
SIFA Fireside, 48-52 Allcock Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B9 4DY. Tel: 0121 7661700.
SIFA can offer support, hot meals, showers, rough sleeper provisions.
Depending on their funding, some night shelters/hostels can offer beds to NRPF clients. During severe weather local authorities should have emergency provision to prevent deaths on the streets. This should be accessible to all clients as a humanitarian measure regardless of status, but it is also very short term. They will need to attend SIFA Fireside to access this provision. The Rough Sleepers team are available on Monday – Friday evenings at Sifa Fireside between 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm – 07483 981912.
Other help and advice;
Lifeline Options offer immigration advice; 120, Vyse Street, Hockley, Birmingham, B18 6NF
Tel: 0121 359 5435
To contact the Home Office about voluntary returns and assisted voluntary returns to their country of origin: 0300 004 0202.
For further help and advice you can contact the Trust’s Homeless Patient Pathway;
Helen Taylor (Lead Nurse) – 07580 677913
Louise Edwards (Housing Navigator) – 07580 677884.
Please note the Homeless Patient Pathway will only be able to offer advice, support and signposting, they will NOT be able to provide accommodation on discharge.