The Home Secretary’s latest announcements will place additional demand on already overstretched advice services, making it more difficult to help people get settled, integrate, and promote community cohesion, AdviceUK, the largest network of free and independent advice services, said.
Against the backdrop of the controversial “earned settlement” consultation, the Home Secretary has made further staggering announcements this week. These include limiting refugee status to a temporary period, limiting asylum support, and halting study visas from four countries. She has also reinforced her commitment to extending the qualifying period for settlement, with controversial accelerators and decelerators. AdviceUK has fundamentally rejected these and said:
“For migrants, refugees and asylum seekers that our member organisations support, these changes would mean longer periods of uncertainty, heightened risk of destitution, and reduced willingness to engage with public services and support systems. For advice services, they would mean increased demand, greater complexity, and intensified pressure on a workforce that is already overstretched and experiencing high levels of burnout. Our members tell us that they are not confident they can meet that demand.
“AdviceUK’s recent report shows that demand for free, independent advice in 2024–2025 was 40% higher than the 2018–2022 average, and that 88% of surveyed organisations report major recruitment and retention difficulties. Our case management system, which is used by much of the advice sector, shows that since April 2024, there have been over 77,000 cases related to immigration and asylum, a 21% increase from 2023. And our member organisations report that demand for their services has already increased, since the Home Secretary’s initial announcement on temporary refugee statuses in November 2025.
“Therefore, AdviceUK urges the Government to drop its proposals on earned settlement, and the changes announced this week, and work closely with the advice and immigration sectors to ensure that any future immigration and settlement policies support fairness.”
You can read our response to the Home Office’s “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” consultation here, and our response to refugee status becoming temporary earlier this week here.
About AdviceUK
AdviceUK is a national charity and the largest network of independent advice centres in the UK, delivering free specialist advice to millions of people each year on a diverse range of issues. Run by and for its nearly 700 members, we provide support, a community and development opportunities for members, as well as a voice on issues that affect them.
Press contacts
Ceren Gunel, Press Officer: press@adviceuk.org.uk or 07955 296206
