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<p>The Government remains committed to protecting vulnerable people and has acted
decisively to ensure that we support everyone through this pandemic. During this time
the Home Office has continued to work closely with Public Health Officials, Ministry
of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and local authorities.</p><p> </p><p>The
Government has introduced a range of measures to ensure people can stay safe and many
of these such as the Coronavirus Job retention scheme, and self-employment income
support scheme are available for those with a no recourse to public funds (NRPF) condition.
Contribution-based benefits are also not classed as public funds for immigration purposes.
Testing and treatment for Covid-19 is also free of charge to all regardless of immigration
status.</p><p> </p><p>We have also launched the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme
in England, which provides a £500 payment to people on low incomes who cannot work
from home and have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace. Support is also
available for those who are not in receipt of one of the seven means-tested benefits
that are part of the eligibility criteria for the main scheme, but who will still
face hardship if they have to self-isolate, in the form of a £500 discretionary payment,
paid by local authorities. This payment is available to those with NRPF, provided
they meet the criteria set by the local authority for discretionary payments in their
area. Further information on this scheme can be found at <a href="https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Ftest-and-trace-support-payment-scheme-claiming-financial-support%2Fclaiming-financial-support-under-the-test-and-trace-support-payment-scheme&data=04%7C01%7CSarah.Welch8%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7C5a89307e1d744a2ba04e08d887f95948%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C637408852887511916%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=Hhz%2BkjzXR%2BbGy2DhXoW9xTzl%2BeCGC9Kqd9jkDqTUePg%3D&reserved=0"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/test-and-trace-support-payment-scheme-claiming-financial-support/claiming-financial-support-under-the-test-and-trace-support-payment-scheme</a></p><p>
</p><p>The Government has provided an unprecedented £7.2 billion of package of support
to councils to help their communities through this pandemic, <em>which includes their
work to support rough sleepers</em>. This includes £4.6 billion in un-ringfenced funding,
£1.1 billion from the Infection Control Fund, £300 million to support Test and Trace
as well as funding allocated to councils from the new Local Alert Level system and
a number of grants to support communities and vulnerable people.</p><p> </p><p>Migrants
with leave under the Family and Human Rights routes can apply to have their NRPF condition
lifted by making a ‘change of conditions’ application if they are destitute or at
risk of destitution, if the welfare of their child is at risk due to their low income
Since the onset of the pandemic, we have continued to prioritise NRPF ‘change of conditions’
applications and deal with them compassionately.</p><p>In light of all the support
that is currently available for people in the UK, including those with an NRPF condition,
we have no plans to temporarily suspend NRPF.</p>
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