Information for professionals

Local authorities are responsible for assisting households facing or experiencing homelessness. They set a clear framework around their duties, including the circumstances in which they must provide accommodation and the sort of accommodation they must provide. This includes assistance for those who have the “no recourse to public funds” (NRPF), or who have no immigration status at all.

It is vital local authorities understand the person’s immigration status, eligibility and the need to support residents to access immigration advice as soon as possible.

Local authorities are required to check more than just an individual’s or a family's immigration status before turning them away. The following may be entitled to support from the local authority:

• those who are covered by the Care Act 2014, including those with a mental or physical impairment and their carers
• those who are covered by the Mental Health Act
• children in need: section 17 of the Children Act 1989 requires local authorities to provide accommodation and/or financial support to a family where the child is assessed as being in need because of their parent’s lack of income or resources, on the part of their parent(s), to be able to meet their living and/or housing needs
• care leavers
• pregnant women
• persons without an immigration status, who are not claiming asylum, and who asserts that their human rights would be breached being left destitute
• victims of modern slavery or human trafficking.

Migrants who do not have an NRPF restriction are entitled to mainstream welfare benefits. See our page on Access to welfare benefits for more information.

All Londoners are entitled to primary healthcare, regardless of their immigration status.

Secondary healthcare is available free of charge to migrant Londoners who are exempt, including:

• non-EEA nationals who have paid the health surcharge as part of their visa application to enter or remain in the UK
• refugees (those granted asylum, humanitarian protection or temporary protection under the immigration rules) and their dependants
• asylum-seekers (those who have applied for asylum; and those who have not applied, but intend to apply, for asylum, humanitarian protection or temporary protection; and those whose claims, including appeals, have not yet been determined) and their dependants
• individuals receiving section 95 asylum support
• refused asylum-seekers, and their dependants, receiving section 4 support or local authority support under Part 1 (Care and Support) of the Care Act 2014
• children being looked after by a local authority
• survivors and suspected survivors of modern slavery
• those receiving treatment under the Mental Health Act
• prisoners and those held in immigration detention
• refused asylum-seekers in Scotland and Wales.

Doctors of the World provides practical resources and a professional training programme for NHS clinical staff.