Asylum support — housing and money for asylum seekers
If you are seeking asylum in the UK and have no money or housing — the Home Office must help you. This is called asylum support. The standard amount is £49.18 per week for each person plus housing (if you need it). The application is made through the free service Migrant Help: 0808 801 0503. On this page — a short quiz ‘what am I entitled to’ and navigation through the section.
🚨 If you were refused asylum support less than 3 days ago — you have very little time left to appeal. Call ASAP on 020 3716 0283 or Migrant Help. More details: appeal to the Asylum Support Tribunal.
What am I entitled to? — short quiz
Answer 3 questions — we will show you which type of support suits you and where to read further.
What stage is your asylum case at?
Three types of support — in one sentence each
What you receive on Section 95 or Section 4
| What | How much / how |
|---|---|
| Money (standard) | £49.18 per week for each person (including children). Loaded onto an ASPEN card once a week. |
| Money (if in a hotel with meals provided) | £9.95 per week for each person — for travel, phone, over‑the‑counter medicines. |
| Housing | First temporary (hotel, hostel) — then ‘dispersal accommodation’ (usually outside London and the South East). No choice. |
| Pregnant — extra payment | £5.25 per week + one‑off £300 (from 11 weeks of pregnancy until birth and up to 6 months after; need form MAT B1 from a doctor). |
| Child under 1 year | £9.50 per week for the child. |
| Child 1–3 years | £5.25 per week for the child. |
| Healthcare | Free NHS appointments, prescriptions, dentist, eye tests. HC2 certificate is issued automatically. |
| Withdraw cash from ASPEN | Section 95: up to £300 per week at an ATM. Section 4: 0 cash — the card works only in shops. |
Honest about timelines and chances
- Decision on Section 95 comes in days‑weeks if your documents are complete. If the Home Office sends a request for further documents (RFI letter) — add 2–4 weeks for each round.
- The asylum case itself often takes 6–18 months. At the end of 2025 about 49% of people waited more than 6 months for an initial decision (Migration Observatory).
- Section 4 is harder to get than Section 95 — the criteria are narrow and you need specific evidence.
- If you are refused support and you appeal — appeals with an ASAP representative win 63% of cases (according to AIDA‑UK 2025 for the period April 2024 – March 2025), plus 19% are sent back to the Home Office for reconsideration.
- Most people are not alone — tens of thousands of families are currently on asylum support. This is normal, not shameful, and you are entitled to it.
⚠️ What is changing in 2026
2 June 2026: the same rule applies to Section 4. In addition, the Home Office’s duty to provide asylum support changes to a discretionary power (so formally they may refuse more often; in practice it is not yet clear how this will be applied).
In consultation (not yet law): a new Section 95A — refused applicants get only a 21‑day grace period (90 days for families with children) and no right of appeal. This is still a proposal, not law. More from NACCOM →
All pages in this section
What is a Home Office hotel, how long it lasts, what to do while the ASF1 is being processed. 📋 Section 95 — how to apply
4 options (full / money only / housing only), 14‑section checklist, sample letters. ❌ Section 4 — after being refused asylum
5 narrow criteria. What changes on 2 June 2026. 🚫 My S95 was taken away — how to get it back
Absconding, illegal work — what to write in a self‑statement, can you re‑apply. 💳 ASPEN card — how to use it
Activation 0800 246 1327, balance, limits, what to do if it does not work, halal/Ramadan. ⏳ How long to wait — real timelines
What to do if it drags on: SAR, pre‑action letter, escalation. 🛟 Refused support — what to do
3 paths: appeal, new application, Schedule 10. Emergency help while it is being decided. ⚖️ Where to find a free lawyer
Civil Legal Aid, ASAP, BID, JCWI, Refugee Council. What is free vs paid. 🆘 Schedule 10 — last resort
BAIL 409 + B2. For people on immigration bail with no other options. 🚨 Appeal — you have 3 DAYS
E09 form, ASAP represents for free (63% win), how the Tribunal works.
Frequently asked questions
What is asylum support?
Asylum support is housing and/or money from the Home Office for people who are seeking asylum and have no means. It is not the same as Universal Credit. Most asylum seekers are not allowed to work.
How much money do you get?
£49.18 per week for each person on an ASPEN card. If you are in a hotel with meals provided — £9.95/week for travel and small expenses. Pregnant women and mothers of children under 3 get extra payments of £5.25–£9.50/week.
Can I work?
Almost always — no. A narrow exception: you have been waiting for an initial decision for more than 12 months through no fault of your own + a job from the Immigration Salary List. Working without permission can lead to your support being withdrawn.
Can I choose the city?
No. ‘No choice basis’. You can make a request for medical reasons, disability, a child’s education (GCSE/A-level), proximity to family, religion, or if you are a victim of trafficking — but it is a request, not a guarantee.
How long does it take to get a decision?
A few days or weeks — if your documents are complete. If a request for further information (RFI) comes — add 2–4 weeks for each round.
What if I am refused?
🚨 3 days to appeal to the Asylum Support Tribunal. Call ASAP on 020 3716 0283 — they represent people for free.
Who helps for free?
Migrant Help on 0808 801 0503 — free call, 24/7. They will help you fill in the ASF1 and tell you what you need.
I worked illegally — my support was taken away
From 27 March 2026 illegal work is a clear ground for ending support. You can submit a new application with an honest self-statement. Your chances are worse, but not zero. More details → /asylum-support/withdrawn-and-recovering/