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<p>The Home Office is committed to the continuous review of the NRPF policy and are
engaging with public and private sector organisations on a regular basis to understand
the impacts of the NRPF condition.</p><p>The Government published an overarching Equality
Impact Assessment on the Compliant Environment measures, of which No Recourse to Public
Funds (NRPF) is part; <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/compliant-environment-overarching-equality-impact-assessment/compliant-environment-overarching-equality-impact-assessment-accessible"
target="_blank">Compliant environment: overarching equality impact assessment (accessible)
- GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). </a></p><p>In general, temporary migrants are expected to support
themselves and any accompanying family members in the UK without recourse to public
funds. This is a well-established principle that protects taxpayer-funded public services
from becoming overburdened.</p><p>Nonetheless, there are important safeguards in place
for those in genuine need. Migrants with permission under the Family or Private Life
routes, or the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) routes, can apply, for free,
to have their NRPF condition lifted by making a ‘Change of Conditions’ application.
An individual on these routes can apply to have their NRPF condition lifted if they
are destitute or at risk of imminent destitution, if there are reasons relating to
the welfare of a relevant child, or where they are facing exceptional circumstances
affecting their income or expenditure.</p><p>For all other immigration routes (other
than Family or Private Life, or the Hong Kong BN(O) routes), the general expectation
is that they will return to their home country should they become unable to meet their
essential living needs in the UK. If there are particularly compelling circumstances
why leaving the UK is not possible, discretion can be used to consider if the circumstances
justify access to public funds.</p><p>Local authorities may also provide basic safety
net support, regardless of immigration status, if it is established either that there
is a risk to the wellbeing of a child or there is a genuine care need that does not
arise solely from destitution: for example, where a person has community care needs
or serious health problems. Support provided to a child by local authorities is not
dependent on the immigration status of the child or their parent(s).</p><p>Migrants
with NRPF who have paid the necessary National Insurance contributions or have relevant
periods of employment or self-employment, can claim contributory benefits and statutory
payments such as New Style Jobseekers Allowance, Statutory Sick Pay, and the State
Pension.</p>
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