Money for Ukrainian refugee hosts ‘should double’, says minister in charge of scheme
Families who have taken in Ukrainian refugees should receive double the funding amid the cost of living crisis, the minister in charge of the scheme has said.
Lord Harrington, the refugees minister, said he fears around a quarter of households hosting people who have fled the war could pull out after the first six months as they struggle with soaring energy bills.
He has asked the Treasury to double the “thank you” payment of £350 a month to £700, according to The Telegraph.
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Lord Harrington told the newspaper: “I’ve asked the Treasury for the second six months to increase the thank you payment from £350 to £700.
“People are under pressure. I can’t say with hard evidence, but all my gut tells me that if they are in financial difficulty [the increased payment] will help a lot.”
The request comes ahead of the six-month anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s bloody invasion of Ukraine on Wednesday.
On Monday, Downing Street said Boris Johnson’s final fortnight in office will include restating support for Ukraine and highlighting measures to address the cost of living crisis.
Fears have been rising that the UK could face blackouts amid soaring energy prices and strains on supplies, mainly due to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Lord Harrington said he was “optimistic” that the Treasury would agree to his request.
He said the Homes for Ukraine scheme saves the government the cost of renting flats for people so “there’s a financial reason as well as a moral and humanitarian one” to increase payments to host families.
He said he has also asked the Treasury for more money to fund English language lessons for refugees, so more can get jobs to enable them to rent a property of their own.
More than 100,000 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in the UK since the war broke out in February.
People who offered up their homes to Ukrainians were asked to commit to an initial six-month stay, with the promise of £350 monthly payment for costs associated with helping out.
Mr Johnson has previously said any major new fiscal policies should be decided on by his successor – Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak – who will be announced on September 5.
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The Treasury suggested any more funding for Ukrainian refugees would be for the next administration to decide.
A Treasury spokesperson said: “The government cares deeply about helping those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, and that is why we announced two new visa schemes to welcome Ukrainian refugees to the UK.
“To recognise their generosity, sponsors who provide accommodation for refugees through the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme will receive £350 per month per address for up to 12 months if the guest remains in their accommodation.
“We have already acted to make sure these payments are exempt from tax, and continue to monitor and review the support provided under the scheme.”
