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Section 4 support

This page explains how you may qualify for short-term support if your application for asylum was unsuccessful, you are unable to return to the country you came from and would otherwise be homeless or without the money to buy food (we call this 'destitute').

If your asylum application has been rejected, you must return to your country of origin as soon as possible. However, you may be able to receive short-term support while you are waiting to return to your country. This is known as section 4 support because it is given under the terms of section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

There are strict requirements you must meet in order to qualify for section 4 support. You must be destitute and satisfy one of the following requirements:

  • you are taking all reasonable steps to leave the United Kingdom or placing yourself in a position where you can do so;
  • you are unable to leave the United Kingdom because of a physical barrier to travel or for some other medical reason;
  • you are unable to leave the United Kingdom because the UK Border Agency believes there is no safe route available;
  • you have either applied for a judicial review of your asylum application in Scotland or applied for a judicial review of your asylum application in England, Wales or Northern Ireland and been given permission to proceed with it; or
  • accommodation is necessary to prevent a breach of your rights, within the meaning of the Human Rights Act 1998.

If you have a case owner and you believe you qualify for it, you can apply for section 4 support using the asylum section 4 support application form on the right side of this page.

If you applied for asylum before 5 March 2007 and do not have a case owner, you can apply for section 4 support using the case resolution section 4 support application form on the right side of this page.

You will not receive any money. You will be given somewhere to live and will receive vouchers you can use to buy essential items such as food and toiletries, and in some cases you may be given housing where your meals will be provided. The list of places where you can use the vouchers (PDF 197K opens in new window) tells you which shops will accept them. They are listed under the name of the firm that provides your housing.

For detailed policy guidance on section 4 support, see the Section 4 page in the Working with asylum applicants and refugees section.

Application forms

Case resolution section 4 provision of services or facilities

Case resolution section 4 support

Asylum section 4 support

Asylum section 4 provision of services or facilities

See also

Related documents