Asylum and immigration
The council has a statutory responsibility to offer assistance to asylum seekers under the National Assistance Act, 1948. We have a duty to provide accommodation and benefits to asylum seekers while they await the outcome of their case with the Home Office.
However, following changes in the law due to the Immigration and Asylum Act of 1999, asylum seekers that arrived after April 2000 no longer have a right to assistance and do not have to be provided for by the council. Instead, the Home Office provides support through the National Asylum Support Service (NASS).
The Asylum Seekers' Service provide specialist social work to asylum seeking families and single adults.