Full access to benefits for those on ‘rooms for refugees’ scheme

Ministers look at giving Ukrainians leave to remain in Britain for 36 months under sponsorship visa

UKRAINIANS coming to Britain under the “rooms for refugees” scheme would get full access to welfare benefits under moves being discussed by ministers.

They may also be granted leave to remain for 36 months under a “humanitarian sponsorship” visa where the public will be asked to offer them homes. It had previously been suggested they would only have a right to remain for an initial 12 month period.

The programme will match tens of thousands of Ukrainians who have no family links to the UK with individuals, charities, businesses and community groups who will provide accommodation and potentially jobs.

The changes would put the sponsored Ukrainians on a par with refugees on the family visa scheme who have relatives in the UK and are entitled to remain in the UK for 36 months, have access to benefits on the same terms as UK nationals and can work.

The sponsored route will be launched on Monday by Michael Gove, the Communities Secretary, with a hotline and gov.uk webpage where the public will be able to offer rooms to refugees.

There will be no cap on numbers, but ministers are expected to set a target of “tens of thousands”. More than 4,600 individuals, businesses, community groups or churches have offered rooms through Sanctuary Foundation, a platform set up in anticipation of the scheme. It was still being finalised last night amid concerns over the scale and costs within the Department for Work and Pensions and Treasury.

A government source said: “The understanding is they would get the same benefits [as those on the family scheme] but no final decision has been taken.” Another source added: “I can’t see a reason why they wouldn’t have the same terms.”

The moves follow a week of criticism of the Home Office’s “chaotic” rollout of its visas for refugees with family in the UK that has led to delays and complaints over bureaucracy and form filling.

It brings the UK closer to the EU approach, which allows in Ukrainians for three years although, unlike Britain, they do not require visas.

Emmanuel Macron last night claimed credit for softening up Britain’s stance on Ukrainian refugees as he urged Priti Patel to bin more border red tape.

The French president said stinging criticism from Paris was behind Home Office about-turns on visa requirements but insisted “much remains to be done”.

In an undiplomatic swipe he accused the UK of failing to treat people fleeing the war properly.

Ms Patel’s French counterpart, Gerald Darmanin, wrote to her on Sunday saying the UK’S approach showed a “lack of humanity” towards those “in distress”. Four days later, the Home Secretary eased rules so Ukrainians can apply for entry to the UK online and must only provide biometric data after arrival.

Britain is preparing for schools to take as many as 100,000 refugee Ukrainian children in areas with high expat populations. Nadhim Zahawi, the Education Secretary, has ordered officials to map school places to establish spare capacity and the need for funding.