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Campaign success on asylum support

Refugee Action have had some success on our campaign to raise asylum support rates. The government cut asylum support in 2009, a move which unfairly impacted on some of the poorest and most vulnerable in our society, including lone parents with dependent children, and young people.

After receiving the thousands of emails and postcards you sent to the government about this issue, Immigration Minister Phil Woolas met with Refugee Action. We presented him with evidence of the extreme hardship our clients are facing, and how many families are unable to buy enough food to last the week. Read our report

On 19th March 2010 we received a letter from the Minister, saying that following our meeting he has decided to increase support to all those awaiting a decision on their asylum claim. The increase will also benefit people on Section 4 support (where they have been refused asylum but the government accepts that there is a barrier to return).

The increase in support is only an inflationary one and will still leave some facing hardship, but we do feel this is an important win, as the government have listened to us, and despite the economic situation they have accepted the principle of not cutting support to the poorest and most vulnerable.

So a huge thank you to all those of you who have taken action on this issue. A big thank you as well to the other organisations and celebrities who spoke out against the cuts. Together, we really made a difference, and we hope that the lives of those fleeing persecution to seek sanctuary here in the UK will be a bit easier as a result.

Read our FAQ on asylum cuts to find out more

Read a Bangladeshi mum's account of making ends meet in Guardian Society

Read a blog by one of our campaign supporters, of her experience of living on £5 a day

Read news coverage about the asylum support campaign

Allowance cuts hits the vulnerable - Independent

Arts celebrities join fight against asylum seeker benefit cuts - Observer

Stars make refugee cash protest - BBC

Budget squeeze hits the weakest - Independent

Asylum seeker payouts to be cut - Daily Mail

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