Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that people granted refugee status receive jobseeker's allowance; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce the potential barriers to receiving jobseeker's allowance in respect of a refugee's difficulty (a) in opening a bank account without a permanent address and (b) gaining an address without a bank account.

People granted refugee status have the same entitlement to benefit as UK citizens. We are working closely with the Home Office to ensure that newly granted refugees are aware of this and receive support to make a claim to benefit where needed.

While bank accounts do remain DWP’s preferred method of payment, it is recognised that some customers including refugees, may have difficulty accessing or opening an account before their first payment of benefit is due. In such cases DWP can make payments via alternative methods such as Post Office card accounts, Simple Payments or into a third party account. These payment methods are available to customers without a permanent address.