Seeking Refuge? - Rights of Women

What happens if my
circumstances change?
You have to tell the UK Border Agency of any
change in your personal or family circumstances
that could affect your asylum support. This
includes things such as if:
• you, or any of your family, change your name;
• any of your children reach their 18th birthday;
• you move to a different place;
• you get married or divorced;
• you separate from your partner;
• you have to go into hospital because you are
unwell;
• you, or your partner, become pregnant or have a
baby;
• any of your children leave school;
• any of your children leave home;
• any other family members join you in the UK;
• any family member living with you in the UK
leaves you to live somewhere else;
• anyone else joins you in your accommodation or
leaves you;
• you are put in prison because you have
committed a criminal offence;
• you get money that you have not already told
the UK Border Agency about (for example, if a
friend or family member gives you money);
• you get money after selling something; or
• you no longer want the UK Border Agency to
give you accommodation.
Am I entitled to any extra
payments?
Women who are pregnant, or who have children
who are under three years old, are entitled to
extra payments, which are given every week on
top of the amount that is paid in asylum support:
Person
Amount of extra
money per week
Family with a baby under
12 months old £5
Pregnant women £3
Children aged between
1-3 years £3
Women who are pregnant, or who have a
newborn baby, are also entitled to apply for a
maternity payment of £300.
You must apply for the maternity payment very
close to the time when the baby is born: less than
a month before the baby is due or within two
weeks of the baby’s birth. You have to supply one
of the following kinds of evidence of your baby’s
birth:
• an original, full birth certificate; or
• an original MAT B1 form (this is a form that is
provided by a doctor or midwife, as evidence of
your baby's birth or expected birth); or
• another original, formal evidence of the birth.
In addition to these extra payments, if you are in
need of care and attention because of health
problems (for example, if you are elderly, disabled or
in the late stages of pregnancy) you may be entitled
to support from your Local Authority. This support is
available under section 21 of the National
Assistance Act 1948, which allows Local
Authorities to provide those in need of care and
attention with accommodation and support. If you
think that you may be entitled to this, you should
contact your Local Authority and ask for an
assessment of your needs. You can find their details
in a telephone book, or by looking online.
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