Key Takeaways:
- The UK government’s new immigration policy changes will penalize individuals who claim benefits while living and working in the UK.
- A low-paid carer from Ghana has cancelled her benefits, including her daughter’s disability living allowance, due to fears about her immigration status.
- The changes will extend the timeframe for applying for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) from 5 to 20 years for some individuals.
- Those who have accessed benefits for more than 12 months will face a 20-year wait for ILR, extended from the current 5 years.
- The policy changes may disproportionately affect low-paid migrants, particularly those from South Asian, African, and Caribbean backgrounds.
Introduction to the Issue
The UK government’s recent announcement of changes to its immigration policy has sent shockwaves through the migrant community. The new policy, announced by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, will penalize individuals who claim benefits while living and working in the UK. This has led to a low-paid carer from Ghana cancelling all her benefits, including her daughter’s disability living allowance, due to fears about her immigration status. The carer, who has three children, has been receiving in-work benefits, including housing benefit and universal credit, due to her low income. However, she has now asked officials to cancel these benefits in order to avoid any potential impact on her immigration status.
The Carer’s Story
The carer, who has completed nine of her 10 years on the "10-year route" to settlement, was advised by lawyers from her community to cancel her benefits after the policy changes were announced. The "10-year route" requires individuals to pay thousands of pounds to renew their temporary leave to remain every 30 months for a decade before being eligible for ILR. The carer’s daughter, who is autistic, receives a disability living allowance of £103.10 a week to assist with personal care and mobility. However, the carer has now cancelled this benefit, along with her own in-work benefits, in order to avoid any potential impact on her immigration status. She has expressed concerns about how she will manage to pay her rent and feed her children without these benefits, and has said that she will have to increase her working hours as a carer to 60 hours a week.
The Impact of the Policy Changes
The policy changes announced by the government will have a significant impact on low-paid migrants, particularly those from South Asian, African, and Caribbean backgrounds. The changes will extend the timeframe for applying for ILR from 5 to 20 years for some individuals, and those who have accessed benefits for more than 12 months will face a 20-year wait. This will disproportionately affect low-paid migrants who rely on benefits to support themselves and their families. Nick Beales, the head of campaigning at the charity Ramfel, has stated that the government’s "earned settlement" plans clearly discriminate against south Asian, African, and Caribbean migrants, who make up the vast majority of people on the existing 10-year route to settlement.
The Government’s Response
A government spokesperson has stated that the proposed new settlement model will give individuals the opportunity to reduce the qualifying period to settlement and citizenship based on contributions to the UK economy and society. The government has launched a consultation on the policy changes and has encouraged overseas workers to take part. However, critics argue that the policy changes will have a devastating impact on low-paid migrants and their families, and that the government’s response does not adequately address these concerns. The carer’s case is not an isolated incident, and it is likely that many other migrants will be affected by the policy changes.
Conclusion
The UK government’s new immigration policy changes have significant implications for low-paid migrants, particularly those from South Asian, African, and Caribbean backgrounds. The changes will extend the timeframe for applying for ILR and penalize individuals who claim benefits while living and working in the UK. The carer’s story highlights the human impact of these policy changes, and the difficult choices that migrants are being forced to make in order to secure their immigration status. It is essential that the government takes into account the concerns of low-paid migrants and their families, and that the policy changes are revised to ensure that they do not disproportionately affect vulnerable individuals.
