Housing and welfare rights

Online tool that we developed in partnership with the University of Oxford's Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS) to help establish what a family’s support options will be on the basis of the parent’s immigration status.

Use the tool to find out:

• Whether a family may be eligible for benefits
• What social services will consider when assessing a family’s eligibility for support under section 17 of the Children Act 1989
• What immigration options the family may have and when they may require signposting to get legal advice from an immigration adviser
• Whether a family will have the right to rent in the private sector in England

Use the web tool

Important update (January 2021)

The web tool has not yet been updated with the new immigration requirements and rules regarding benefit eligibility that now apply to European Economic Area (EEA) nationals. For the current position, please refer to our factsheet on supporting EEA nationals who are destitute or at risk of homelessness. 

Factsheet that summarises the immigration requirements that now apply to European Economic Area (EEA) nationals and their family members, and how these affect entitlement to benefits, housing assistance, and social services’ support. It also includes information about the EU Settlement Scheme to help local authorities to identify and assist residents who may need to make a late application.

Read the factsheet (PDF)

Factsheet to assist councils that are supporting residents with no recourse to public funds who are destitute or at risk of homelessness, including those who have been accommodated under the Government's 'everyone in' policy.

Includes information about: 

• Entitlements to government support for people who lose their income due to the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic
• Implementing the Schedule 3 exclusion when a person or family are eligible for social services' support

Read the factsheet