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<p>Many of the wide-ranging COVID-19 measures the Government has put in place are
available to migrants with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) and have been recently
extended.</p><p> </p><p>The assistance being given under the Coronavirus Job Retention
Scheme and the Self-employed Income Support Scheme are not classed as public funds
and are available to all those who are legally working or self-employed respectively,
including those with NRPF status. Both these schemes have been extended until spring
2021.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has continued to keep the situation under review
and has introduced further measures as required, such as the Test and Trace Support
Payment Scheme in England. This provides a £500 payment to those who have been told
to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace. Support is also available
for those who do not meet the criteria of the scheme, in the form of a £500 discretionary
payment, paid by local authorities. This payment is available to those with NRPF,
who meet any additional criteria set by the local authority. Further information on
this scheme and discretionary payment can be found at <a href="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"
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>Individuals whose lawful basis of stay in the UK is based on their family life
or human rights can apply to have the 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, or where there are other exceptional
financial circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>Since the onset of the pandemic, we have continued
to assess and prioritise NRPF ‘change of conditions’ applications and deal with them
compassionately. To support the swifter processing of applications, we have introduced
evidential flexibility so that caseworkers can make a decision without requiring every
piece of information. Data published in July shows the average time taken to make
a decision on cases is 30 days despite a large increase in applications in quarter
2 of 2020. Of the decisions taken in the same period, 89% were granted. More information
can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/no-recourse-to-public-funds-applications-to-change-conditions-of-leave-july-2020"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/no-recourse-to-public-funds-applications-to-change-conditions-of-leave-july-2020</a></p>
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