If you are seeking asylum in the UK and do not have enough money to support yourself or somewhere suitable to live, you can apply for asylum support.

Depending on your circumstances, support can include accommodation, money for essential living costs, healthcare assistance and access to education for your children.

There is also additional support available in certain circumstances, including for pregnancy and where the standard asylum-support allowance does not meet a particular need and that need cannot be met in another way.

This guide explains the main types of support currently available and what happens to that support when your asylum claim is decided.

For wider guidance, visit our Asylum & Refugee Support page.

LawNeeds is not a law firm and does not replace regulated legal advice.

Who Can Apply for Asylum Support?

GOV.UK states that you can apply for asylum support if you are homeless or do not have enough money to buy food.

The purpose of asylum support is to provide essential help to people who would otherwise be unable to meet their basic living needs while their asylum claim is being considered.

Depending on your circumstances, you can ask for:

  • Somewhere to live
  • Financial support
  • Both accommodation and financial support

You do not automatically receive the same type of support as every other asylum seeker. What you receive depends on your circumstances and the support you need.

What Financial Support Can Asylum Seekers Receive?

Under the current GOV.UK rates, an asylum seeker receiving cash support will usually receive £49.18 per person in their household each week.

This money is intended to help pay for essentials such as:

  • Food
  • Clothing
  • Toiletries
  • Other basic living costs

The allowance is normally placed onto an ASPEN card, which is a payment card used by people receiving asylum support and loaded with funds each week.

Asylum-support payment rates can change. Always check the latest GOV.UK figure rather than relying on an older article or social media post.

What If Your Accommodation Provides Meals?

A different rate applies where your accommodation already provides meals.

The current GOV.UK rate is £9.95 per person in the household each week where meals are provided as part of the accommodation.

Check the conditions of your own asylum support rather than assuming that everybody receiving accommodation receives the same weekly amount.

What Accommodation Can Asylum Seekers Get?

If you need somewhere to live, asylum support can provide accommodation.

GOV.UK states that this could include:

  • A flat
  • A house
  • A hostel
  • Bed and breakfast accommodation

The exact type of accommodation depends on what is available and your circumstances.

As of 31 March 2026, Home Office statistics recorded 97,519 people receiving asylum support, across hotels, initial accommodation, contingency accommodation, dispersal accommodation and other forms of accommodation, while a smaller group received subsistence-only support.

These national figures change over time and do not determine where an individual asylum seeker will be housed.

Can You Choose Where Your Asylum Accommodation Is?

No.

GOV.UK states that people receiving asylum accommodation cannot choose where they live and that it is unlikely that accommodation will be provided in London or south-east England.

You can be offered accommodation in a different part of the UK from where you are currently staying. Do not assume that requesting a specific town or city means you will be housed there.

If there is an important reason why particular accommodation would not be suitable for you, such as a significant health or safeguarding issue, explain the circumstances and provide relevant evidence where available.

What If You Have Particular Accommodation Needs?

The Home Office has guidance for considering accommodation needs and requests from people receiving asylum support.

Relevant circumstances can include particular vulnerabilities or reasons why a type or location of accommodation is unsuitable.

If you have an important need relating to:

  • Disability
  • Serious health problems
  • Pregnancy
  • Safeguarding
  • Children
  • Access to necessary treatment
  • Other significant personal circumstances

Raise it through the appropriate asylum-support process.

Do not assume that the Home Office already knows about a change in your medical or personal circumstances. You need to report it.

Can Pregnant Asylum Seekers Get Extra Financial Support?

Yes.

Current GOV.UK guidance provides additional weekly payments to help pregnant women and mothers with young children buy healthy food.

The current additional rates are:

  • £5.25 per week during pregnancy
  • £9.50 per week for a baby under one
  • £5.25 per week for a child aged one to three

These payments are additional to the ordinary asylum-support allowance where the eligibility requirements are met.

Because rates can change, check GOV.UK before relying on these figures.

Is There a Maternity Payment for Asylum Seekers?

Yes.

Under the current rules, someone receiving asylum support can apply for a one-off £300 maternity payment if their baby is due within 11 weeks or the baby is under six months old.

GOV.UK states that a MAT B1 form from a doctor is required when applying.

If you become pregnant after applying for asylum support, the current GOV.UK process directs applicants to Migrant Help to apply for the additional payment.

Do not confuse this asylum-support maternity payment with other maternity benefits that have different eligibility requirements.

Can You Get Extra Support for Other Essential Needs?

Potentially.

GOV.UK states that you can apply for additional support where the standard asylum allowance will not meet your needs and you can show that those needs cannot be met in another way.

The current process uses Form ASF2 for this type of additional support.

Whether additional help is available will depend on the circumstances and the particular need.

If your needs have changed, keep relevant supporting information and explain the position accurately when applying.

Can Asylum Seekers Get NHS Healthcare?

GOV.UK states that asylum seekers receiving support can get help accessing NHS healthcare.

This can include seeing a doctor or receiving hospital treatment. Support also includes:

  • Free prescriptions
  • Free dental treatment
  • Free eyesight tests
  • Help towards the cost of glasses

The asylum-support application process is separate from receiving medical treatment, and the precise healthcare charging rules can depend on the service and individual circumstances.

If you need non-emergency medical help, the current asylum-support guidance directs people to NHS 111.

In an emergency, use the appropriate emergency NHS service.

What About Mental Health Support?

Mental health needs are healthcare needs.

Someone going through the asylum process can be dealing with trauma, uncertainty, separation from family members or experiences of persecution.

If you need help with your mental health, seek appropriate healthcare support rather than assuming that you must manage those difficulties alone.

Relevant medical or psychological circumstances can also be important to the asylum process itself, particularly where they affect your ability to attend appointments, participate in an interview or explain your experiences clearly.

Keep your legal representative informed where a health issue materially affects your asylum claim.

Can Children of Asylum Seekers Go to School?

Yes.

Children of compulsory school age should attend school, and asylum-support guidance states that children aged 5 to 17 must attend school. State schools are free, and children may also be eligible for free school meals.

If you need to arrange a school place, the current GOV.UK asylum-support guidance directs parents to their local council for primary and secondary school applications.

Moving asylum accommodation can sometimes mean that practical arrangements need to be made for a child’s education, so keep relevant school records and correspondence organised.

Can Adult Asylum Seekers Study?

Education for adults is different from compulsory school education for children.

Whether an adult asylum seeker can access a particular course, qualification, college programme or funding arrangement depends on the rules for that course and provider.

Do not assume that being allowed to attend a course means that funding or student finance will also be available.

Ask the education provider about its eligibility requirements and seek appropriate advice where your immigration status affects access to education.

Can Asylum Seekers Claim Universal Credit?

Asylum seekers who are waiting for a decision generally rely on the asylum-support system rather than mainstream benefits such as Universal Credit.

The position changes after refugee status is granted.

Current GOV.UK guidance states that people with refugee status can apply for benefits, with most working-age applicants applying for Universal Credit where they meet the relevant requirements.

Do not submit a benefits claim based only on assumptions about your status.

Check the immigration permission you currently hold and the eligibility requirements for the particular benefit.

Can Asylum Seekers Work Instead of Receiving Support?

Asylum seekers are not normally permitted to work while their claim is being considered.

Limited permission can be available where an initial asylum decision has been outstanding for more than 12 months and the delay was not the claimant’s fault. Permission must be applied for and restrictions apply to the work that can be undertaken.

Receiving asylum support does not give you permission to work.

If you are granted permission and begin earning money, you must report changes in your financial circumstances because they can affect your asylum support.

For more information, read Can Asylum Seekers Work in the UK?

How Do You Apply for Asylum Support?

The current GOV.UK process uses Form ASF1 for applications for housing and financial support.

The form is submitted to the asylum support casework team.

Your application will need to provide information about your circumstances so that eligibility for support can be assessed.

You should provide accurate information about matters such as:

  • Where you are living
  • Whether you have somewhere suitable to stay
  • Money available to you
  • Financial support from other people
  • Your household
  • Your asylum claim
  • Relevant medical or personal needs

Do not hide financial resources or provide information you know is inaccurate. Providing false information can have serious consequences.

Can You Get Help Applying for Asylum Support?

Yes.

GOV.UK directs asylum seekers to asylum helplines for free assistance with asylum-support applications and information about the asylum process.

If your issue involves the legal status of your asylum claim rather than simply completing a support application, you may also need advice from a regulated immigration professional.

Keep the distinction clear between practical asylum-support assistance and legal advice about your protection claim.

What Is an ASPEN Card?

An ASPEN card is the payment card used to provide financial asylum support.

The Home Office loads your weekly allowance onto the card. GOV.UK states that people receiving the ordinary cash allowance can use the ASPEN card to withdraw cash from a cash machine.

Keep the card secure.

If there is a problem with your payments, card or support arrangements, report it through the appropriate asylum-support channel rather than assuming the problem will correct itself.

What If Your Circumstances Change?

Changes in your circumstances can affect the support you receive – and you have an obligation to report them.

For example, your position can change if you:

  • Begin receiving income
  • Obtain employment
  • Move address
  • Start living with someone
  • Have a child
  • Become pregnant
  • Develop important health needs
  • Gain access to other financial resources
  • Receive a decision on your asylum claim

Make sure relevant changes are reported through the appropriate process.

Failing to disclose important financial or personal information can create serious problems with your support.

Can Support Be Removed?

Asylum support depends on continuing eligibility and compliance with the applicable conditions.

Do not assume that accommodation and financial support are guaranteed indefinitely regardless of changes in your circumstances.

Your entitlement can be affected where you have resources available to support yourself or where your immigration position changes.

If the Home Office tells you that your support is being stopped and you do not understand why, read the decision carefully and obtain appropriate advice promptly.

What Happens to Asylum Support If Your Claim Is Refused?

A refusal does not necessarily mean that every form of support ends immediately.

A person whose asylum claim has been refused may still be eligible for short-term support in certain circumstances. GOV.UK states that they must be homeless, have no money to buy food and be able to show that there is a reason why they cannot yet leave the UK.

Where eligible, this can include:

  • Short-term accommodation
  • A payment card for food and toiletries
  • Help with prescriptions
  • Dental treatment
  • Eyesight tests and glasses

For refused-asylum support, GOV.UK states that the payment card is provided with the accommodation rather than separately.

There can also be additional support for specific needs, including certain medical appointments, registering a new baby’s birth and maternity payments.

If your asylum claim has been refused, the legal options relating to the refusal and the practical question of asylum support are separate issues.

Read What to Do If Your UK Asylum Claim Is Refused for more information about the refusal itself.

What Happens to Support If You Are Granted Refugee Status?

Asylum support does not continue indefinitely once refugee status is granted.

Current GOV.UK guidance states that asylum support usually ends 42 days – six weeks – after refugee status is granted. The Home Office will send a letter confirming the exact date on which your individual support will end.

From 9 March 2026, the Home Office operates a 42-day move-on period. This means support continues for 42 days from the date of the grant letter. You will then receive a separate asylum support discontinuation letter giving you at least 28 days’ notice of the exact date your support will end.

In practice, the sequence works like this: you receive your grant letter, and the Home Office then calculates your support end date as 42 days from that letter. A separate discontinuation letter follows, confirming the exact end date and including your UKVI account details and National Insurance number where available.

This creates an important and short transition period. GOV.UK advises newly recognised refugees to act promptly to:

  • Apply for benefits where eligible
  • Arrange a bank account
  • Find somewhere to live

If you are living in asylum accommodation, you must move out after your support ends.

Do not wait until the final days before starting these arrangements. There can be a gap between asylum support ending and your first Universal Credit payment arriving.

Our guide to What Happens After You Are Granted Refugee Status in the UK? explains this transition in greater detail.

Can Refugees Claim Benefits?

Once refugee status or another status giving access to public funds has been granted, mainstream benefits may become available, subject to the normal eligibility requirements.

GOV.UK states that refugees can apply for benefits where relevant circumstances apply, including:

  • Unemployment
  • Low income
  • Bringing up children
  • Illness or disability
  • Caring responsibilities
  • Retirement

Most working-age applicants will apply for Universal Credit where eligible.

There can be a gap between asylum support ending and a first benefit payment. GOV.UK states that someone without enough money during that period can request an advance on their first benefit payment.

What About Housing After Refugee Status Is Granted?

If you were living in asylum accommodation, you will need to find new accommodation after your support ends.

GOV.UK advises newly recognised refugees who need housing help to contact their local council as soon as possible.

Possible routes can include:

  • Help from the local authority
  • Social housing where available
  • Private rented accommodation

Social housing is in high demand – receiving refugee status does not guarantee that you will immediately receive social housing.

Acting early is important.

Can Refugees Get an Integration Loan?

Adults aged 18 or over can apply for a refugee integration loan if they are a refugee, have humanitarian protection, or are a dependant of a refugee or someone with humanitarian protection.

Current GOV.UK guidance says these loans can be used for purposes including:

  • A housing deposit
  • Rent
  • Household items
  • Education
  • Training for work

Eligibility and the amount available depend on the applicable scheme rules.

This support applies after refugee status has been granted – not while someone is still waiting for an asylum decision.

How to Stay Organised While Receiving Asylum Support

Asylum support can involve several different organisations, documents and changes in circumstances.

It can help to keep one organised record of:

Your Asylum-Support Application

Keep a copy of your application and any evidence submitted.

Home Office Correspondence

Store letters relating to accommodation, payments and your asylum claim.

Your ASPEN Card

Keep it secure and report problems promptly.

Accommodation Information

Keep the address and any instructions associated with where you are living.

Financial Changes

Record changes to income or other financial resources that need to be reported.

Health Information

Keep relevant documents where health needs affect your accommodation or support.

Children and Education

Keep school correspondence and information relating to your children’s needs.

Important Dates

Record asylum interviews, reporting events, support decisions and other deadlines.

Organisation cannot determine whether you will receive asylum or support, but it can help you understand what is happening and respond when action is required.

How LawNeeds Can Help

Understanding asylum support can be difficult when you are also managing an active immigration claim and dealing with significant personal uncertainty.

LawNeeds can help you:

  • Understand the different types of asylum support
  • Organise questions about accommodation and financial support
  • Keep important documents and dates clearer
  • Understand common Home Office terminology
  • Access AI-powered legal support tools
  • Prepare questions to discuss with an immigration professional
  • Identify when regulated professional support may be needed

LawNeeds cannot determine whether you personally qualify for asylum support or guarantee that a particular application will be approved.

Where your support situation involves legal questions, a refusal, homelessness or complex personal circumstances, appropriate professional advice can be particularly important.

LawNeeds is not a law firm and does not replace regulated legal advice.

Visit our Asylum & Refugee Support page for wider guidance.