Disbenefited cases - Registration and Validation

27 - Disbenefited cases - Registration and Validation

Purpose & Scope

This instruction sets out the procedure to be followed when a disbenefited case is received. A disbenefited case is where application for asylum has been refused and the Benefits Agency (BA) cuts off support.

Issuing Application Forms

When the BA cuts off support it writes to the applicant to advise that benefit has been ended because their immigration status has changed. The letter advises the applicant to contact NASS, giving the enquiry number which the asylum seeker, or representative, should phone to obtain an application form.

When an application form is requested for a disbenefited case. A disbenefited case must be identified as such. The applicant’s details, name, date of birth and address should be entered on to ASYS. The resulting NASS reference number should then be written legibly on the top right-hand corner of the application form before it is sent to the applicant. A comment that it is a disbenefited case and the application form has been sent but no file created should be entered in ASYS under Tab 2 Address Comments. This should be marked Y as critical.

Receipt of Application Forms

When a form issued in response to an enquiry by NASS to a disbenefited asylum seeker is returned it will be recognisable as a disbenefited case because it will have a NASS reference number clearly visible.

When such cases are received a file should be created in the normal way and it should be flagged with the "DISBENEFITED CASE" label. The file should then go through the registration and validation process and be sent on the disbenefited case team, (3rd floor Quest House).

When the details are added to the ASYS record under Tab 3 State Benefits – "BA-disbenefited" should be selected.

Applicants may also obtain application forms from the one-stop services. The one stop services have been asked to mark any application forms they issue to disbenefited cases with "DB" to indicate that it is a disbenefited case