You must make an asylum claim before you can get asylum support.

You are not usually allowed to work while you are seeking asylum.

Find out how to apply for asylum on GOV.UK

What is asylum support?

Asylum support is only available if you are homeless or have no or very little money.

You could get:

• somewhere to live

• £47.39 a week for each person in your family

If you have to stay in a hotel where food is provided, you only get £9.58 a week.

Pregnant people and children under 3 get a small amount extra each week.

You still get the cash support if you choose to live with friends or family.

How to get asylum support

Ask for asylum support as soon as you arrive if you need it.

Tell the immigration officer if you have nowhere to stay and no money to support yourself. This will not affect your asylum claim.

You should be given somewhere to stay very quickly if you appear to be destitute.

Destitute can mean you're:

• homeless and on the streets

• staying somewhere very unsafe, for example, if you're at risk of violence

You can also apply for support at any time during the asylum process if you have no money or become homeless.

If you've been in the UK for some time, you need to show why you cannot support yourself anymore. For example, if friends ask you to leave.

What is Migrant Help?

Migrant Help is a refugee charity that can help you:

• apply for asylum support

• deal with problems in asylum housing

• move on from asylum housing if you get refugee status or other leave

Who can help with the form?

You have to fill in form ASF1 on GOV.UK

Migrant Help or another refugee advice service can help with the form.

When it's complete, email it to S95@migranthelpuk.org

Migrant Help pass the form to the Home Office who decide if you can get asylum support.

What if your asylum support application is refused?

You can appeal to the asylum support tribunal.

You must do this within 3 days if you can.

Find out how to appeal in the Asylum Support Appeals Project (ASAP) guide.

Get advice from a refugee charity.