The Refugee Council has raised concerns over the UK Home Office’s decision to introduce a 42-day move-on period for newly recognised refugees, questioning the reasoning behind the change.
The 25-page report, Getting it right: the importance of the move-on period for newly recognised refugees, can be downloaded here.
In a report published last month, the Refugee Council highlighted ongoing issues faced by refugees transitioning from asylum support to independent living. Since 2002, the standard move-on period has been 28 days — a timeframe widely criticised for contributing to homelessness and financial hardship.
To address growing pressures, particularly during efforts to reduce the asylum backlog in 2024, the government introduced a pilot scheme in December 2024 extending the period to 56 days.
According to the Refugee Council’s research, which included interviews with refugees, local authorities, healthcare professionals, and charities, the extended 56-day period led to significantly better outcomes. Refugees were more likely to secure housing, access benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions – including Universal Credit – and reported lower stress levels during the transition.
However, in early March 2026, the government confirmed that a 42-day move-on period would now apply to all newly recognised refugees, replacing the longer pilot scheme.
The report notes that this change was not formally announced but introduced through updated Home Office guidance. The Refugee Council also criticised the lack of transparency, stating that no clear justification has been provided for selecting 42 days, and that the official evaluation of the pilot scheme has yet to be published.