Immigration Policies Leave Thousands Destitute in Scotland, Study Finds

A study by Heriot-Watt University has uncovered a severe humanitarian crisis affecting individuals with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) and other restricted eligibility (RE) statuses in Scotland.

Drawing on a survey of 138 people receiving help from Fair Way Scotland, along with in-depth interviews involving 30 individuals and 17 frontline workers, the research paints a grim picture of the struggles faced by those caught up in restrictive immigration policies.

Fair Way Scotland is a collaboration of third-sector organisations aimed at tackling homelessness and destitution among people with NRPF/RE. In 2023/24, the partnership provided crucial casework support to 1,229 individuals across Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen—a dramatic 65% rise compared to the previous year.

The report categorises those helped by Fair Way Scotland into three key groups: individuals who arrived in the UK seeking asylum but have exhausted their right to appeal (51%), EEA nationals facing NRPF/RE restrictions (42%), and a smaller group on spousal or student visas with NRPF (7%). Notably, three-quarters of the people surveyed have lived in the UK for over five years, and many have been residing in the country for a decade or more.

Key Findings:

• Housing insecurity is almost universal among the survey participants
  
  93% were experiencing homelessness, and 53% reported having slept rough at some point in the past year. More than half (55%) are living in temporary accommodation provided by charities, local authorities, or the Home Office, while 12% are sleeping rough. 

• Destitution is the norm for people with NRPF/RE
  
  97% of respondents were destitute at the time of the survey. Weekly incomes are strikingly low, averaging less than £40. A large majority (82%) reported earning under £60 per week, and a third of respondents had no income at all.  

• Extreme material deprivation is widespread
  
  66% reported going without meals, 69% lacked adequate clothing, and 63% couldn’t afford basic toiletries. Those with NRPF/RE are 33 times more likely to go without food and 69 times more likely to lack clothing compared to working-age people in the general population.
  
  Charities and food banks provide some relief, offering food, clothing, and toiletries, but this aid is often inconsistent and insufficient. For many, the reliance on such support is a source of humiliation, further deepening their sense of marginalisation. 

• Employment restrictions are severe, and illegal or exploitative work is common
  
  Two-thirds of respondents are barred from working under current immigration rules. Those permitted to work often face serious challenges, including health issues, homelessness, and language barriers. As a result, illegal or exploitative work becomes the only option for some, with 14% reporting experiences of forced labour in the past year—a figure that rises to 16% among EEA nationals.
  
  Despite their desperate need for income, many people avoid seeking employment out of fear of exploitation and worries about jeopardising their immigration status.

• The physical and mental health toll on this population is profound
  
  40% reported poor mental health—more than double the rate seen in the general population. Widespread trauma, violence, and discrimination have also forced some into survival crimes, like shoplifting for food, further entangling them in the criminal justice system.
  
  

The Role of Fair Way Scotland

Fair Way Scotland has proven to be a vital lifeline for many, offering flexible casework support that addresses the complex needs of this vulnerable group. The help provided has been life-changing for some, enabling them to access crucial support they were previously entitled to but unable to secure. However, the demand for Fair Way Scotland’s services is rapidly outstripping capacity, with a 65% surge in cases over the past year alone.

For those in Fair Way accommodation, paired with small cash support, the impact has been particularly profound. Many report improved quality of life, with the security of having a space to call their own and the ability to cook their own meals. Even the modest cash payments have helped many avoid going hungry.

Calls for Urgent Reform

Professor Beth Watts-Cobbe of Heriot-Watt University describes the current situation as a “humanitarian crisis” affecting a population that is largely hidden from view. She stresses the urgent need for reform: “Two-thirds of those we spoke to are not allowed to work, blocking their ability to support themselves out of these dire circumstances and stifling their ability to contribute to the society they desperately want to make their home. These counterproductive hostile environment policies affect thousands of people across Scotland, crushing their potential and creating destitution by design.

“Radical and urgent reforms are needed that prioritise people’s ability to access the essentials and live a dignified life. The new UK Government must commit to ending the unnecessary hardship that is being caused by current immigration policy and urgently change course.” 

Deborah Hay, a senior policy advisor at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, adds that while scaling up Fair Way Scotland’s support is essential, such mitigation programs shouldn’t be necessary: “The Scottish Government, independent funders, local authorities, and housing associations must work together to reduce the harm caused by current immigration policy by using every tool at their disposal. Public services and charities, stepping in to address appalling state neglect, are also bearing the preventable and costly brunt of those policies and must be fully supported.

To read the report in full, click on the link below:

Destitution by Design: righting the wrongs of UK immigration policy in Scotland