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<p>Failed asylum seekers are provided with support under section 4 of the Immigration
and Asylum Act 1999 if they are destitute and can show that there is a temporary legal
or practical obstacle that prevents them from leaving the United Kingdom voluntarily.
The precise reasons why they are temporarily unable to leave vary from case to case,
but examples include where they are too sick to travel and because they have been
granted permission to apply for a judicial review of a decision relating to their
asylum claim.</p><p>All retail outlets that accept the Azure card receive information
about the rules relating to card purchases. The Home Office is aware that there are
some instances where card purchases are refused, but in the great majority of cases
this is simply because the person had insufficient credit on the card to purchase
the items they were seeking to obtain. Reports of where the card purchase has been
refused for other reasons are investigated and the matter taken up with the particular
retail outlet.</p><p>Card users can apply for travel tickets to attend essential medical
appointments. The cost of travel to essential appointments with legal advisers is
covered through legal aid. Accommodation is provided within walking distance of shops
and other services.</p><p>Information and guidance about how to apply for travel assistance
is published on the GOV.UK website and it is also provided by the voluntary sector
organisations that assist Azure card users, including Migrant Help, which is funded
by the Home Office to provide an advice service.</p><p>Any retail outlet that provides
food and other essential living items and accepts visa transactions can apply to join
the Azure card scheme and talks periodically take place with new outlets that have
expressed an interest in joining the scheme.</p><p>However, the card is currently
accepted by Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s, the Co-operative, Iceland, Boots,
Mothercare, The British Red Cross, The Salvation Army and a few small independent
retailers. The Home Office is therefore satisfied that the card is an effective way
of ensuing that the persons are able to purchase food and other necessary items to
cover their essential living needs.</p>
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