A person has who has recourse to public funds can access welfare benefits and local authority housing assistance if they meet the eligibility rules.
A person can access public funds when they have one of the following types of immigration status:
If a person does not have a document to confirm their immigration status, they should not be refused a service without further checks into their circumstances.
Page updated: 18 March 2026
Adult relative of a person in the UK who is a British citizen, has settled status, refugee leave or humanitarian protection, and who requires long-term personal care as a result of age, illness, or disability, when this care is unavailable or cannot be provided by anyone in their country of origin.
Granted when a person is recognised as having a real risk of serious harm or well-founded fear of persecution in their country of origin, but not for any reason set out under the UN Refugee Convention 1951, usually following an asylum application.
Granted to a person who is recognised under the United Nations Refugee Convention 1951 as having a well-founded fear of persecution in their country of origin for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion. A person may be granted refugee status after applying to the Home Office for asylum or entering the UK on a resettlement scheme.
