In England, if you’ve claimed asylum and been given refugee status, Asylum Support and 'section 4' support will stop 28 days after the decision.

This means you will:

• stop getting your cash allowance
• have to move house - if you’ve been given somewhere to live as an asylum seeker

Once you’ve got refugee status, you’ll get permission to work in the UK - in any profession and at any skill level. If you’re not ready or able to look for work and have very little or no income, you can apply for benefits instead.

You’ll also have to think about opening a bank account and getting a National Insurance number.

When you get migrant status, the Home Office will tell Migrant Help. Migrant Help is an organisation that can help you find housing, claim benefits and make an appointment at the Jobcentre. They’ll contact you within 1 working day of being told about your migrant status.

If you need help with housing and/or are struggling to cope financially please see the links below for council support.

• Homelessness - Salford City Council
• Support with the cost of living - Salford City Council
• Cost of living support - Salford CVS

Please see the links below for advice and support after you have got refugee status:

• Welcome: a guide for new refugees
• Claiming Universal Credit and other benefits if you are a refugee - GOV.UK
• After you get refugee status - Citizens Advice
• Rights and entitlements of refugees and asylum seekers in the UK
• REACHE Northwest

English language classes

There are many opportunities in Salford to improve your English through ESOL classes or through more relaxed ways in the community through our Talk English Learning Cafes. Find put more about English as a second or other language (ESOL) classes.

Regular informal classes are held at the following places:

• St. James’ Church, Pendleton Way, M6 5JA. Call: 0161 736 1935
• Mustard Tree, Haysbrook Avenue, Little Hulton, M28 0BA. Call: 0161 505 0974
• Langworthy Cornerstone, 451 Liverpool Street, Salford, M6 6QQ. Call: 0161 213 1920
• Yemeni Centre, 1 Gladstone Road, Eccles, Manchester, M30 0WY. Call: 0161 707 7012
• The Broughton Trust, Humphrey Booth Centre, Health Avenue M7 1NY. Call: 0161 831 9807

Find out more

Call Kasia on 0161 778 0146 for more information or see the Salford ESOL Facebook page.

Regaining professional identity and supporting NHS workforce recruitment

REACHE (Refugee and Asylum Seekers Centre for Healthcare Professionals Education) established in 2003, has been supporting Refugee and Asylum-seeking Healthcare Professionals (RHPs) to register their qualifications in the UK. We have an education centre based at Salford Royal Hospital, part of the Northern Care Alliance Foundation and are supported by NHS England and the University of Manchester.