Concerns grow over backlog of UK residency applications from EU citizens

THE Home Office has been urged to clear a troubling backlog of applications from EU citizens hoping to stay in the UK amid reports of growing problems with the post-brexit residency scheme.

SNP Europe Minister Jenny Gilruth said she was “deeply concerned”so many people had yet to have their paperwork processed for the EU Settlement scheme.

It coincided with the leak of Whitehall estimates suggesting 130,000 of the 820,000 European benefits claimants in the UK had yet to apply to remain in the UK before the June 30 deadline, and so could have lifeline funding cut off.

The Times reported around 70 per cent of those are considered vulnerable, with some 90,000 in receipt of Universal Credit. The UK Government said it was working hard to identify those yet to apply.

Around 276,600 EU nationals living in Scotland had applied for settled status by the end of May.

But a backlog of around 334,500 applications had already built up by then – up 29,500in a month.

By the end March, 250,040 of the then 263,220 applications from Scotland had been processed, with 141,220 granted settled status, and 102,000 granted pre-settled status.

However the Scottish Government insists all successful applications to the scheme should be granted full settled status.

Ms Gilruth said: “With only days to go to the deadline, it is deeply concerning that hundreds of thousands of applications – many of which will very likely be from our fellow citizens who wish to stay in Scotland – have yet to be processed by the Home Office.

“Since the Brexit referendum five, long years ago, EU citizens, who contribute so much in so many ways to our society, have been forced to live with unacceptable levels of uncertainty as to how Brexit will affect their lives, their careers and their families.

“It is just wrong that EU citizens who fail to apply by the deadline will suddenly become unlawfully resident in the UK.

“So the UK Government should make the common sense decisions to extend the deadline, clear the backlog – and reform the scheme.”

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the Government was encouraging those who had not put in an application to do so as soon as possible.

“We are making sure that anyone receiving benefits is given every opportunity to apply to the EU settlement scheme,” he said.

“We are working hard to identify existing claimants who are yet to apply and encouraging them to do so. Anyone who has applied for the scheme by the June 30 deadline will have their rights protected until their application is decided.

“In line with the (Brexit) Withdrawal Agreement, those who have reasonable grounds for missing the deadline will be able to make a late application.

“We will continue to work hard to identify the small minority who have not yet come forward.”