Asylum: Domestic Abuse

(asked on 7th December 2022) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department takes to provide financial support to an asylum seeker who has been subjected to domestic violence where the abusive partner is the main applicant on an asylum claim and where the couple are separated.


Answered by
Robert Jenrick Portrait
Robert Jenrick
This question was answered on 15th December 2022

We are committed to ensuring that no domestic violence victim is reliant on their abuser either in respect of their application for asylum or their asylum support needs.

We have existing policy guidance on how we support victims of domestic violence in the asylum support system: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1049475/Asylum_support_domestic_abuse.pdf.

The Home Office works alongside other agencies who can support victims with financial support and advice. Victims of domestic violence can claim asylum in their own right if they were previously the dependant of an abusive partner and that any information they provide will be treated in confidence (subject to safeguarding duties).

No destitute asylum seeker will be left without asylum support or accommodation in the event of separation following a domestic violence incident. We have established processes in place to disaggregate financial support to ensure that victims can promptly receive their share of the financial support independently of their abuser.

Reticulating Splines