Homes for Ukraine - Information for guests
What to expect when you arrive
Your sponsor will be able to help you adjust to life in the UK. As well as being able to give you a room or rooms, they will also want to make sure that you are comfortable and have everything you need.
Your sponsor will also know a lot about the area you are staying in and can help you to find places such as shops, schools, pharmacies, community centres.
However, your sponsor may not have all the information. It is the responsibility of Ealing Council to give you welcome support and make sure you can access all the services you need. When you arrive in Ealing, you will get an invitation by email for an appointment with an officer from the Ealing Homes for Ukraine team (homeforukraine@ealing.gov.uk) to be carried out at your host’s home address, to check all is well and talk about any support needs you might have.
Guest subsistence payments
Anyone who arrives in the UK under the Homes for Ukraine team is entitled to an initial £200 subsistence payment. We will provide this to you when you arrive. This is a one-off payment to help you with essential costs before you can establish an income. This will be made by bank transfer to your UK bank account. Therefore, it is important that you open a bank account on arrival and provide us with a bank statement, so we can process this payment for you.
Grant for Homes for Ukraine refugees
Refugees who have arrived on the Homes for Ukraine scheme can apply for a grant of £500. The grant aims to support employability, upskilling and personal development as you settle into the community.
Getting your biometric residence permit (BRP)
Your permission letter issued by the Home Office will tell you if you need to collect your biometric residence permit (BRP) and where to get it when you arrive in the UK.
You need to get it within 10 days of arriving or by the expiration date on your visa, whichever is later. A BRP is a card with your immigration status on it. You can use it to prove your right to study and claim any benefits you are eligible for, as well as a proof of ID for banking purposes, GP registration, National Insurance number, English classes.
You can also use your BRP number together with your date of birth to view the expiry date of your leave to remain on GOV.UK
Homes for Ukraine welcome guide
We have put together a guide to facilitate your smooth transition and settlement into life into the borough. This guide will walk you through the necessary steps to integrate into the community covering aspects such as employment, housing, healthcare, education, family life, and more.
Read the full welcome guide in English
Read the full welcome guide in Ukrainian
You can email HomeforUkraine@ealing.gov.uk with any questions that you still have.