Urgent help
ASPEN card — what to do right now
Card not working? It is fixable. Three buttons below for three situations. You can use the card in shops. Online and transfers are blocked. Section 95 allows up to £300/week at ATM, Section 4 — stores only.
Card not working right now
most urgentNothing to eat, card declined — call now:
Migrant Help — 0808 801 0503Free · 24/7 · multilingual. They will give you an emergency grant (cash for food for a few days) and order a new card.
Card declined at a specific shop?
- Try another shop — sometimes it is a terminal error
- Check your balance: call 0800 246 1327
- Since August 2025 some categories are blocked (gambling, alcohol-only, education, fines) — details below
- If the block seems wrong, call Migrant Help — they can escalate
Activation — step by step
5 steps- 1 Got the card? Usually about 3 weeks after applying for full-board (S98) housing. The envelope contains PIN instructions.
- 2 Call 0800 246 1327 — IVR from Prepaid Financial Services (PFS). Free.
- 3 Choose your language — Russian, Ukrainian, Arabic, Farsi and others are available.
- 4 Enter your card details — number, date of birth, sometimes a reference number.
- 5 Write down your PIN — it is read aloud. Do not show it to anyone. The card is active right after the call.
Limits by status
S95 vs S4| Action | Section 95 | Section 4 / S98 |
|---|---|---|
| Shopping in stores (Mastercard) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Withdraw cash from ATM | ✅ up to £300/week | ❌ |
| Online purchases | ❌ | ❌ |
| Contactless payments | ✅ up to limit | ✅ up to limit |
| Transfer to another person | ❌ | ❌ |
| Subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify) | ❌ | ❌ |
| Top up phone in a shop | ✅ | ✅ |
What you cannot buy
blocked merchants since Aug 2025In August 2025 the Home Office introduced a list of shop categories where ASPEN does not work:
- Gambling: betting shops, casinos, lotteries
- Alcohol-only off-licences: shops selling only alcohol
- Education fees: courses, universities, private schools
- Fines / penalties: court payments
- Adult entertainment
Sometimes ordinary shops are blocked by mistake (for example a café without alcohol). If you think the block is wrong, call Migrant Help 0808 801 0503 — they can escalate.
PIN, balance, card replacement
one number- Call 0800 246 1327 → choose Balance — free
- ATM (S95 only) → Balance enquiry — may cost £0.50 outside Mastercard network
- Receipt after each purchase shows remaining balance
Call 0800 246 1327 → choose PIN. The IVR will read your new PIN aloud.
Call Migrant Help 0808 801 0503 — they will block the old card and order a replacement. While you wait they may give you an emergency cash grant.
Health, halal, pregnancy
automatic entitlementsHC2 certificate — free healthcare
Issued automatically with Section 95. Valid for 6 months, renewable. If you did not receive it, call Migrant Help.
- Prescriptions (medicines) — free
- Dental treatment (NHS) — free
- Eyesight test — free
- Glasses voucher
- Travel costs to hospital for NHS referrals
Halal food / dietary requirements
- ASPEN works in halal shops like a normal card
- In catered hotels (S98) they must offer a halal alternative by law — if not, call Migrant Help
- Ramadan: no extra money, but you can ask the hotel to keep food for iftar
Pregnant / breastfeeding
An extra £5.25–£9.50 per week is automatically added to ASPEN when pregnancy is registered with a MAT B1 form.
Frequently asked questions
How do I activate ASPEN?
Call <strong>0800 246 1327</strong>. Choose your language — Russian, Ukrainian, Arabic, Farsi and others are available. The IVR will ask for your card details and read your PIN aloud. Write it down immediately, do not show it to anyone. The card is active right after the call.
How much cash can I withdraw?
Section 95: up to <strong>£300 per week</strong> from any Mastercard ATM. Section 4: <strong>nothing</strong> — you cannot withdraw cash, only shop in stores.
Can I use ASPEN online?
No. The card is <strong>blocked</strong> for online purchases (even though the card number looks like a normal debit card). Only in-store purchases and ATM withdrawals (for S95).
What should I do if my card is declined in a shop?
1) Check your balance: call 0800 246 1327. 2) Try another shop. 3) Since August 2025 some shops from the blocked merchant list do not accept the card (gambling, alcohol-only, education, fines). 4) If the card does not work at all, call Migrant Help <a href="tel:08088010503">0808 801 0503</a> for an emergency grant and replacement.
How is ASPEN different from a normal bank card?
It is a prepaid card from Prepaid Financial Services (PFS) for the Home Office. Money is loaded once a week. You cannot withdraw more than is loaded. You cannot use it online. You cannot use it in some shop categories. It is not a bank account.
What if I lose my card?
Call Migrant Help <a href="tel:08088010503">0808 801 0503</a> — they will block the old card and issue a new one. While you wait they may give you an emergency cash grant.
Halal food and Ramadan?
ASPEN works in halal shops like a normal card. In catered hotels they must offer a halal alternative by law. There is no extra money for Ramadan. If you are in a hotel, ask if you can keep food for iftar.
What is an HC2 certificate?
A certificate issued automatically with Section 95. It gives you free prescriptions, NHS dental treatment, and eyesight tests. Valid for 6 months and renewable. If you did not receive one, call Migrant Help.
Is there extra money for pregnant or breastfeeding women?
Yes. An extra <strong>£5.25–£9.50 per week</strong> is automatically added to ASPEN when pregnancy is registered with a MAT B1 form.