New research offers important insight into impact of NRPF on households in bottom 40% of incomes
A new report published last week by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) finds that half of low-income families in which at least one member has 'no recourse to public funds' (NRPF) are falling into destitution, unable to afford essentials such as food, heating, or suitable clothing.
Image credit: UK GovernmentYou can download the 27-page report here or read it online here.
NRPF is an immigration condition attached to most visas and grants of limited leave to remain, which prevents individuals from accessing most mainstream benefits and housing assistance. As JRF notes in the report, the number of people affected is not officially recorded, but estimates suggest the total population of people with NRPF could exceed four million.
The report's findings are based on data from JRF's cost-of-living tracker, which surveyed households in the bottom 40% of incomes in the UK in May and October 2024. In May, 136 of the 4,092 households surveyed included at least one adult with NRPF, while in October, 168 of 4,068 households met this criterion. While the tracker's overall sample is weighted to reflect the UK population, no weighting was applied to the NRPF subgroup due to its distinct demographic profile compared with the national average.
As the overall data on the experiences of people with NRPF is limited, JRF's new research offers an important insight into the experiences of low-income families affected by the condition.
Going without essentials was a common experience for most of those surveyed, with the report stating: "Around 8 in 10 low-income families with NRPF went without essentials like heating or suitable clothing in the 6 months before the survey, or enough food in the previous 30 days (81%). This is higher than the 6 in 10 (59%) low-income families in which no one has NRPF." Food insecurity was particularly acute: nearly six in ten said they had cut back or skipped meals, and almost half said they had gone hungry. Alarmingly, 30% reported turning off their fridge or freezer to save on electricity bills.
Housing costs were a significant burden. With access to social housing generally denied to people with NRPF, two-thirds of the surveyed families lived in private rental accommodation. More than three-quarters were spending over 30% of their income on housing, and 60% were spending over 40%, levels generally considered unaffordable. Some reported falling behind on other bills in order to keep up with rent or mortgage payments.
Low savings and high debt were also widespread. Almost half of families with NRPF had less than £200 in savings, leaving them vulnerable to unexpected expenses. More than half had taken out loans to pay for food, housing or other essential bills, and over a third had high-cost credit loans with steep interest rates. Many also faced additional financial strain from visa fees and the NHS surcharge, which for many visa types now exceeds £1,000 per person each year.
JRF noted: "While we do not ask about visa fees in this survey, there is good evidence that many families take on debt to pay for these. In November 2023, Praxis found that 1 in 5 people said they would have to borrow money to pay for visa fees."
Arrears on bills were common. Over 60% of households with NRPF were behind on at least one bill, compared with 36% of low-income families without the restriction. For those in arrears, the average debt was £1,260.
Families with children were particularly affected. Almost six in ten NRPF households in the survey had children, and 82% of these reported going without essentials. Close to half (47%) said they had gone hungry. Two-thirds were in arrears on bills.
Summing up its overall findings, JRF explained: "Our new analysis shows significant hardship faced by low-income families with NRPF, with higher levels of hardship across all our key measures compared to all other low-income families. While we are unable to tell if our sample is representative of low-income families with NRPF, it adds further evidence of the poor living standards experienced by so many people who come to work and contribute to the UK."
JRF says that all people in the UK should be protected by a safety net to ensure they can meet their basic needs, and this should be dealt with separately from immigration policy. In addition, JRF calls for improved data collection to better understand the circumstances of people with NRPF and to support more informed policy making.