Study title

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The aims of the project were: to consider how far the basic housing and financial needs of refugees and asylum seekers are being adequately met; to explore the strategies used by asylum seekers and refugees in order to meet their needs in relation to housing and social security; to explore the role of the formal and informal welfare agencies and actors in meeting such needs; to engage in some preliminary scoping of the appropriateness of a policy that would allow asylum seekers to engage in paid work in order to meet their needs.Main Topics:This data collection consists of two related sets of transcribed semi-structured qualitative interviews. The first set comprises interviews with eleven key respondents involved in the provision of welfare services to forced migrants. The second set includes interviews with 23 forced migrants, including five refugees, seven asylum seekers, six people with humanitarian protection status (leave to remain), five failed asylum seekers/'overstayers', and one migrant classified as 'other'. Users should note that some of the interviews are combined, and one is a focus group interview. Thirteen of the forced migrants were male and ten female. Ages ranged between 21 and 57 years. Nine countries of origin were identified: Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, Iraq, Iraqi Kurdistan, Kosovo, Pakistan, Somalia and Zimbabwe. The countries of origin of individual respondents are not included in the interview transcripts, for confidentiality reasons. Topics covered include: Set one (providers): background statistics; position of organisation and organisational role; key issues for welfare and housing provision to forced migrants; perceptions of the effects of formal immigration status on welfare; coping strategies of forced migrants, including welfare rights, informal provision, migrant behaviour, migrant employment; ways forward for the future improvement of...