Are you an EEA National and vulnerable?
Do you have financial constraints and are worried about paying for your settled status application??
The most encouraging news on EU citizens’ settled status has officially been released yesterday, the 25th October 2018. The Home Office has announced they will be granted funding of up to £9 million to support EU citizens who might need additional help when applying for their immigration status through the EU Settlement Scheme. So if you are an EU citizen living in the UK and are on a low income, here’s what you need to know:
In order to achieve this result, voluntary and community organisations across the UK have joined the Home Office so that EEA Nationals needs are fully covered and safely represented if you are struggling to fund yourself throughout the settled status application process.
The grant will help these organisations to both inform vulnerable individuals about the need to apply for settled status and support them to complete their applications to protect their status as the UK exits the EU.
Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes said that British people see the EU citizens as their neighbors, their friends, and family and that they want you to stay. As a result, you will be supported throughout the entire process of application and funding required for getting the settled status.
It is essential that you and those EU citizens who are more vulnerable and require support are able to access the help that you need. Therefore, protecting your eligibility and status are two core elements towards which we are working on so that every EU citizen benefits from their current rights.
Additionally, here’s what Jane Ide, Chief Executive at the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NVCA), said:
“It is encouraging that the government has recognised and actively drawn on the local voluntary sector’s expertise in working with the most marginalised and disadvantaged members of our communities in planning for this crucially important program of work.
We look forward to continuing to work with the Home Office to ensure that the local voluntary sector is given all the tools and resources it needs to effectively enable every EU citizen in this country, no matter how vulnerable, to access the support they need at this time of enormous change.”
Organizations working with people who might be affected and require additional support can apply for project funding from the end of November.
Finally, the Home Office also announced the next phase of the rollout of the EU Settlement Scheme. From 1st November to the 21st December the private test phase will be extended to include vulnerable people with additional support needs with the involvement of a small number of local authorities and community organisations. The scheme will be fully open by March 2019.
So whether you are thinking to apply for settled status, a funding scheme, or both and you would like to have more information and support regarding the applications, please feel free to contact us at hello@optimuslaw.co.uk and one of our immigration specialists will get in contact with you. Eventually, you can give us a call at 0121 516 0288 and one of our team will be happy to assist your enquiry.