George Osborne’s
proposals to sanction benefits for those who are claiming Jobseekers Allowance
and refuse to attend mandated English language courses will be destructive to
our client’s attempts to make a new life for themselves and their families in
the UK.
Families entering
the UK under family reunion policy are arriving after one or more member has
suffered persecution. Parents have been separated from children for years at a
time when they most need each other’s support.
Placing more
conditions on entitlement to Jobseekers allowance will push even more newly
arrived families further into poverty. Negotiating the complexities of benefit
entitlement already means that some families are living off a single person’s
benefits for weeks after they arrive.
Those arriving
under family reunion have already suffered and their arrival in the UK should
be an opportunity for them to recover. Mandatory English courses would place
unneccessary strain on families at a time when they’re least able to cope.
Contrary to popular
belief refugees coming to the UK want to work. Many are surprised that they
receive benefits and some do voluntary work to help themselves feel more
comfortable about taking the handouts.
Noone is denying
that learning English will be instrumental in enabling refugees find paid
employment but if Osborne wants people to get themselves into work maybe he
should make it look at the difficulties already faced by so many in trying to
access ESOL courses. Those seeking asylum have to wait 6 months before becoming
eligible for only funding for half the costs, a spouse who’s partner is working
has to wait a year before becoming eligible for co-funding..
Sanctioning benefits
based on English course attendance won’t force people with poor English skills
into work it will push them further into isolation and hamper their efforts to
integrate into their new community.
From the Refugee Welcome Trust blog: www.refugeefamilyreunion.blogspot.com
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