Now that the UK is no longer part of the EU, people living in the UK from EU countries must apply for settlement status if they have not done so already. If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you and your family can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021.
From July this year EU nationals who haven’t applied to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) risk losing the right to live and work in the UK. It is free to apply for settled status and it grants a person the same rights to healthcare, education, benefits and pensions as a British citizen.
This month the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants said: “On 1 July 2021 anyone who has yet to apply, or apply successfully, will be left without immigration status and exposed to the consequences of the hostile environment; at risk of losing their jobs, homes, access to benefits, and healthcare, driving licences, detention, criminalisation and removal – a second Windrush, but on a much bigger scale.”
Applications must be made online at www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
Information and advice is available from:
Mayor of London: https://www.london.gov.uk/…/how-apply-eu-settlement-scheme
Settled: https://settled.org.uk/
Application stories and advice: www.forum.ukcen.com
EU citizens in Lambeth can get direct advice from these local services:
Citizens Advice Merton and Lambeth: Lambeth EU Settlement Support | CAML
IRMO (Indoamerican Refugee and Migrant Organization) – based in Brixton with services in English, Spanish & Portuguese: https://irmo.org.uk/
Lambeth for Europe chair Heather Glass commented: “EU citizens help make Lambeth what it is. We think that’s a big part of why our borough overwhelmingly rejected Brexit.
‘‘We know the process can seem daunting and we want to make sure everyone who is eligible can access the help and information they need to remain part of our community.”
We are asking everyone in the Borough to check with EU citizen friends, family and neighbours that they know about the EUSS and the June deadline
