Justice First


	Culture Most people who seek asylum in Britain have no knowledge of British law. Many have no knowledge of the English language. Nevertheless, in order to comply with our law and its deadlines, people seeking asylum must either assimilate information at a considerable pace or receive the benefit of reliable and prompt advice. These requirements need to be met at the same time as applicants are starting a new life in unfamiliar surroundings. One or both of the difficulties described above are experienced by the great majority of people seeking asylum. They are frequently accompanied by further cultural and evidential complications: A person seeking asylum may be ashamed of his or her past treatment and withhold supporting evidence of rape or other atrocities. He or she may fear officialdom and respond to questioning with panic responses which cannot subsequently be justified. People seeking asylum may be unable to obtain proof of their assertions from the country they have fled. They may have entrusted their application to an inadequate or unscrupulous adviser. Welfare All people seeking asylum require a minimum level of support from the State while their claims are being considered. This is a necessity, because no asylum claimant is permitted to earn money during the application or appeal process. The system is strictly applied and hardship frequently results. It works as follows: Once they have registered their claim for asylum, most applicants are dispersed to approved accommodation in Britain, frequently to the North East. Utility costs are met as part of this package.People seeking asylum are then supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS), with weekly payments for an individual over 25 of £40.22, equivalent to 70% of income support. This level of support continues throughout the period of the original application and any subsequent appeal.Legal Aid is also provided for the applicant. The entitlement is five hours or £800 of legal aid to cover the original application, one appeal and any interpreter’s fees which may arise. These sums are claimed directly from the Home Office by the applicant’s legal adviser. Pressures such as these place a special duty of care on charities which seek to secure fair consideration for applicants’ claims for asylum. On rejection of an applicants appeal, all support normally stops. There are technical exceptions to the principle, but in practice most people seeking asylum are evicted from their accommodation at this point and monetary and legal aid entitlements are withdrawn. The person seeking asylum is now homeless and penniless. Many disappear. Back

Culture
Most people who seek asylum in Britain have no knowledge of British law. Many have no knowledge of the English language. Nevertheless, in order to comply with our law and its deadlines, people seeking asylum must either assimilate information at a considerable pace or receive the benefit of reliable and prompt advice. These requirements need to be met at the same time as applicants are starting a new life in unfamiliar surroundings.
One or both of the difficulties described above are experienced by the great majority of people seeking asylum. They are frequently accompanied by further cultural and evidential complications:

A person seeking asylum may be ashamed of his or her past treatment and withhold supporting evidence of rape or other atrocities.
He or she may fear officialdom and respond to questioning with panic responses which cannot subsequently be justified.
People seeking asylum may be unable to obtain proof of their assertions from the country they have fled.
They may have entrusted their application to an inadequate or unscrupulous adviser.

Welfare
All people seeking asylum require a minimum level of support from the State while their claims are being considered. This is a necessity, because no asylum claimant is permitted to earn money during the application or appeal process.
The system is strictly applied and hardship frequently results. It works as follows:
Once they have registered their claim for asylum, most applicants are dispersed to approved accommodation in Britain, frequently to the North East. Utility costs are met as part of this package.People seeking asylum are then supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS), with weekly payments for an individual over 25 of £40.22, equivalent to 70% of income support. This level of support continues throughout the period of the original application and any subsequent appeal.Legal Aid is also provided for the applicant. The entitlement is five hours or £800 of legal aid to cover the original application, one appeal and any interpreter’s fees which may arise. These sums are claimed directly from the Home Office by the applicant’s legal adviser.
Pressures such as these place a special duty of care on charities which seek to secure fair consideration for applicants’ claims for asylum. On rejection of an applicants appeal, all support normally stops. There are technical exceptions to the principle, but in practice most people seeking asylum are evicted from their accommodation at this point and monetary and legal aid entitlements are withdrawn.

The person seeking asylum is now homeless and penniless. Many disappear.

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