EUSS DEADLINE APPROACHING

With only two months until the deadline to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, I am calling on local care homes to check that residents with EU citizenship are registered by the end of June.

Set up by the UK Government following the vote to leave the EU, the scheme requires EU citizens currently living in the UK to apply for settled or pre-settled status by 30 June 2021. This includes all citizens of the EU (excepting Ireland), Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Those who do not apply could lose the right to live and work in the UK, use the NHS for free, enrol in education, access benefits and rent property.

I have written to care home operators in the constituency to ask for their help to alert vulnerable or isolated residents to the need to apply, and to support them to do so.

I will continue to urge the UK Government to automatically maintain the rights of EU citizens in the UK without the need for the EUSS. In the meantime though it is essential that as many people as possible are made aware of the scheme, in order to protect their current rights and entitlements.

It’s not just older people who have been here for a long time who need to apply; all EU citizens no matter how young or old must apply to the EUSS before the end of June if they are to be allowed to stay here.

I’m asking for help from care home operators to make sure everyone affected by this is aware of the EUSS and knows where to go for support. Locally Fife Migrants Forum has a team of trained advisors who can assist with applications and advice about the scheme, and I would urge anyone with questions about their status to contact them.

Fife Migrants Forum can be contacted on 01592 642927 and support is available in a variety of languages.