Homelessness applications and immigration status

When we check if you're eligible for homelessness support, we'll ask you:

  • about your immigration status
  • if you've lived abroad recently
  • if you're British or have lived here all your life.

Who may be eligible for homelessness support

You may be eligible for support if you have:

Access to public funds

People with EU settled status, refugee status or humanitarian protection all have access to public funds. This may be referred to as 'recourse of public funds'.

This means you can apply for help with housing or benefits if you need it. 

Other examples include:

Habitual residence

Habitual residence usually means:

  • you have lived in the UK, Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man for at least a month
  • you'll be living here for the foreseeable future. 

Most people need to be habitually resident to get homelessness support, this includes British and Irish citizens. 

Sometimes you do not need to be habitually resident. For example if you:

  • have refugee or humanitarian protections
  • are deported or removed from another country to the UK
  • were living in Ukraine before 1 July 2022 and left because of the war.

Escaping war

If you're escaping war, you can ask for homelessness support if you:

  • have British and Irish citizenship
  • have an immigration status that gives you recourse to public funds
  • lived in Ukraine before 1 July 2022 and left because of the war
  • lived in the Sudan before 15 April 2023
  • lived in Gaza, The West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, Lebanon or Israel before 7 October 2023.

If you have lived here before

You could be habitually resident as soon as you arrive in the UK if you have returned to resettle. 

You can show your intention to resettle by:

  • looking for work
  • registering with a GP
  • arranging school places for children. 

You may also be able to claim Universal Credit through DWP.

EU citizens

You can usually get help if you're an Irish citizen or have settled status in the UK. Some EU citizens with pre-settled status also qualify, but you'll need to meet extra conditions. 

You will not be able to get help if you moved to the UK after 31 December 2020 unless you're an Irish citizen or have settled status. 

Those with indefinite leave to remain (ILR)

You will usually qualify for help if you have been granted ILR and are habitually resident.

If you have been sponsored to come and live in the UK within the last 5 years, you'll only be able to get homelessness support if your relative has died. 

Refugees

You will usually qualify for homelessness support if you have been granted:

  • refugee status
  • humanitarian protection
  • discretionary leave with recourse to public funds.

You can apply to extend your leave before it expires and will continue to qualify until the Home Office makes a decision. 

Commonwealth citizens

You may qualify for help if you're habitually resident and have right of abode. 

Other long term residents from the Commonwealth also have the right to:

  • live
  • work
  • claim benefits
  • apply for homelessness support. 

You could also get help through the Windrush Scheme if you:

  • moved to the UK before 1989
  • are settled here but do not have the documents to prove it. 

Seeking asylum

You may be able to receive asylum support when the Home Office looks at your asylum claim.

If you're under 18, you can contact the Children's services team for advice.

If you came to the UK as someone's partner

You cannot usually receive homelessness support if you're on a spouse or partner visa. 

The Home Office expects you to live in your partner's home for your first 5 years in the UK. 

If your relationship ends

You may be able to receive permission from the Home Office to claim benefits if your relationship ends because of domestic abuse.