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Asylum

Asked by Neil O'BrienConservativeHome OfficeTabled Answered 1 June 2026UIN 3357

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people with refugee status ceased receiving Home Office asylum support in each of the last 12 months.

Answered by Alex Norris

The Home Office has a legal obligation to meet the essential living needs of destitute asylum seekers. Support is usually provided in the form of accommodation and a weekly allowance, which is reviewed each year to ensure it covers essential living needs.

From the point individuals are notified of a positive asylum decision, they are given a notice period of 42 days to exit the asylum accommodation estate. Individuals will continue to receive a minimum of 28 days to move on from when they are notified that their asylum support is being discontinued in their asylum support discontinuation letter.

Data on the number of asylum seekers receiving support is published quarterly in the Immigration System Statistics data tables available on GOV.UK (Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK)


On 31 March 2025, 106,771 individuals were in receipt of asylum support. The latest release, published on 21 May 2026 shows that on 31 March 2026 97, 519 individuals were in receipt of support, a reduction of 9,252.

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