Scores of asylum seekers are awaiting decisions in Portsmouth in 'appalling' system
People with ongoing claims for asylum receive financial assistance and accommodation through what is known as Section 95 support, as do those whose application was unsuccessful, but who had children in their household at the time.
Home Office figures show 251 people were receiving Section 95 support in Portsmouth at the end of June – nine per cent more than at the end of March.
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Hide AdThe figures show that there were 10 people waiting in the Fareham borough, three in Havant, one in Gosport and none in the Winchester City Council area.
The Liberal Democrats have criticised the Government's ‘appalling and unacceptable’ system for leaving vulnerable people in limbo for many months, after the numbers waiting for an asylum decision hit a record high across the UK.
Across the UK, a record 45,769 people were getting support – 50 per cent more than five years previously.
Separate figures from the Home Office show the vast majority (72 per cent) of applicants waiting for a decision at the end of June had waited more than six months, compared to just 54% the year before.
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Hide AdApplicants are prevented from claiming welfare benefits – and in most cases from working – while waiting for a decision.
Those receiving Section 95 support are given accommodation, typically in hostels or shared flats, access to healthcare, education for children under 18, and £5.66 per day in aid.
The Liberal Democrats are calling for a new dedicated unit to speed up asylum decisions and want to lift the ban on asylum seekers working, boosting applicants' income and giving them the chance to contribute to the economy.
Christine Jardine, an MP and the party's Home Affairs spokeswoman, said: ‘We should welcome people who’ve come to the UK fleeing war or persecution with compassion and enable them to contribute to our society, not keep them trapped for months on just £5.66 a day – especially now during this pandemic.
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Hide Ad‘The way the Home Office is treating these vulnerable people is appalling and unacceptable.
‘It is leaving thousands of asylum seekers waiting many months for a decision, preventing them from working, renting a home or supporting their families.’
A Home Office spokeswoman said: ‘We are dealing with sustained high levels of new asylum applications which is creating pressure and the impact of Covid-19 has significantly impacted on our ability to progress asylum claims.
‘As restrictions are lifted we are getting the system moving once again and we have plans in place to improve the speed with which outstanding asylum claims are decided.’
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Hide AdIn Portsmouth, 225 people were being provided with accommodation at the end of June, while 26 applicants were receiving financial assistance only, having found their own place to live. In Fareham, all applicants were being provided with accommodation at the end of June, as were all three in Havant. In Gosport, the one applicant was receiving financial assistance only at the end of June, having found their own place to live.
Though a local breakdown of where these people fled from is not available, the most common nationality in the south east was Albanian, with 94 receiving support.
The south east was home to 823 asylum seekers – the lowest of all 12 UK regions.
The Home Office prevents asylum seekers from working unless their claim has been outstanding for 12 months through no fault of their own, and restricts them to jobs in which the UK has a shortage of workers.