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<p><del class="ministerial">The EU Settlement Scheme is designed to make it simple
and straightforward for EU citizens and their family members to apply to stay in the
UK after we leave the EU. We are looking for reasons to grant status, not reasons
to refuse, and the scheme is performing well.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">The
Home Office has put in place a comprehensive vulnerability strategy to ensure that
the EU Settlement Scheme is accessible for all, including those requiring someone
to make an application on their behalf. We are also engaging with relevant stakeholders,
such as the Department for Health and Social Care, the Local Government Association,
the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and the Devolved Administrations,
to assess the needs of vulnerable groups and ensure they are met.</del></p><p><del
class="ministerial">The Home Office has introduced a range of support for applicants,
including assisted digital support at around 300 locations across the UK and the EU
Settlement Scheme Resolution Centre, open seven days a week, to provide help and information
by telephone and e-mail. We have also provided up to £9 million of grant funding to
57 voluntary and community organisations across the UK to enable them to mobilise
services targeted at vulnerable EU citizens.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">Regarding
specific support for (a) those with dementia and (b) other similar health conditions,
such as those without mental capacity, the Home Office has designed a scheme that
allows applicants to consent to an appropriate third party to apply on their behalf.
This means that care givers, family members and friends can provide the necessary
assistance to those who need it.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">The Home Office
is aware that a range of vulnerable applicants may face significant challenges in
securing evidence to support their application. For this reason, we will in such circumstances
accept a range of evidence of identity and residence on behalf of an applicant, working
with the person making the application to establish the applicant’s eligibility based
on all the evidence available. Caseworkers are trained to exercise discretion in the
applicant’s favour where appropriate.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The EU
Settlement Scheme is designed to make it simple and straightforward for EU citizens
and their family members to apply to stay in the UK after we leave the EU. We are
looking for reasons to grant status, not reasons to refuse, and the scheme is performing
well.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Home Office has put in place a comprehensive
vulnerability strategy to ensure that the EU Settlement Scheme is accessible for all,
including those requiring someone to make an application on their behalf. We are also
engaging with relevant stakeholders, such as the Department for Health and Social
Care, the Local Government Association, the Association of Directors of Adult Social
Services and the Devolved Administrations, to assess the needs of vulnerable groups
and ensure they are met.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Home Office has
introduced a range of support for applicants, including assisted digital support at
around 300 locations across the UK and the EU Settlement Scheme Resolution Centre,
open seven days a week, to provide help and information by telephone and e-mail. We
have also provided up to £9 million of grant funding to 57 voluntary and community
organisations across the UK to enable them to mobilise services targeted at vulnerable
EU citizens.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Regarding specific support for (a)
those with dementia and (b) other similar health conditions, such as those without
mental capacity, the Home Office has designed a scheme that allows applicants to consent
to an appropriate third party to apply on their behalf. This means that care givers,
family members and friends can provide the necessary assistance to those who need
it.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Home Office is aware that a range of
vulnerable applicants may face challenges in securing evidence to support their application.
For this reason, we will in such circumstances accept a range of evidence of identity
and residence on behalf of an applicant, working with the person making the application
to establish the applicant’s eligibility based on all the evidence available. Caseworkers
are trained to exercise discretion in the applicant’s favour where appropriate.</ins></p>
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