Borough of Sanctuary

No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) applies to individuals who are subject to immigration control in the UK. 

Individuals subject to NRPF are not entitled to financial help from the UK Government. Public funds include various types of welfare benefits and social housing assistance. 

For more information about public funds and your rights if you have an irregular immigration status, or are not habitually resident in the UK, visit the NRPF Network website.

Who to refer

We have a number of statutory responsibilities to adults and families who have No Recourse to Public Funds.

Our responsibilities include:

1. Section 17 Children Act 1989: Families who are destitute or who are at risk of destitution. This includes families who are experiencing homelessness or who are struggling to meet their family’s essential needs.
2. Care Act 2014: Single adults with care needs who are ‘ordinarily resident’ in Southwark who have ongoing eligible care needs.
3. Section 117 Mental Health Act 1983: A person who has been detained (or sectioned) in order to undergo urgent treatment for a mental health condition may be provided with aftercare when their detention ends or when they leave hospital.
4. Young people leaving care. Young people who have been looked after by the local authority.

In addition, you may have a need for social care linked to old age or pregnancy.

Any referrals for support under the Children Act 1989 must be for children ‘in our area’ through living in Southwark or attending school in Southwark.

Any referrals for support under the Care Act 2014 should be for adults who are ‘ordinarily resident’ in Southwark and who have ongoing eligible care needs. 

Our dedicated NRPF team will assess your needs to determine whether you're eligible for support. 

Useful contacts and resources

It may be possible to have your NRPF restriction lifted if your circumstances change, and you're experiencing financial hardship. 

The Home Office is required to take into account the impact of any restriction on the welfare of children in particular. 

Find leave to remain with NRPF (change of conditions) information. 

Guidance on applying to change your permission.

You can contact Citizens Advice Southwark (CAS) for further advice on: 08082787849 or visit their website. 

Role of the NRPF team 

We understand that the most vulnerable residents need support to stop them from experiencing destitution and to protect children’s welfare.

In 2015, we established a single service for people with NRPF status. Our specialist NRPF service works with vulnerable individuals and families to ensure they receive appropriate support to meet their needs while also helping them find pathways to independence. 

We have a dedicated NRPF team to ensure we use our resources effectively. This includes social workers and specialist NRPF assessors, as well as working with the Home Office to resolve immigration queries as quickly as possible. 

If you have any queries regarding a potential referral, email NRPF@southwark.gov.uk.

Completing the NRPF Referral and Consent Form

When completing the NRPF Referral and Consent Form, it's important that all sections are completed. Blank sections may result in the form being returned and the applicant’s assessment being delayed.

All information provided in referral forms must be accurate and truthful. Forms without agreed consent cannot be accepted unless in exceptional circumstances.

What happens next

Following receipt of the NRPF Referral and Consent Form, a member of the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) team will contact you to discuss your referral.

This will usually be within 2 working days of the referral being received. If the referral meets the initial eligibility criteria, an assessment will be booked so that the applicant’s circumstances can be discussed in more detail.

Information about data is collected via online forms.

Documents you'll need to provide

During the assessment, you will be asked to provide a number of documents. 

Documents you can use to support an application include:

• passport
• birth certificate
• letter from Home Office
• letter from a solicitor
• marriage certificate
• NHS GP registration cards
• personal child health records, sometimes called a 'Red Book'
• letter from hospital
• letter from child/children’s school
• payslips from the last 6 months
• entitlement letters for benefits
• current account statements from the last 3 months
• savings account statements from the last 3 months
• credit card statements from the last 3 months
• loan statements from the last 3 months
• mobile phone statements from the last 3 months
• proof of address such as a utility bill
• proof of previous addresses
• tenancy agreement
• eviction letter