Case Study: Empowering a Sudanese Family's Journey Through Collaborative Welfare Intervention

Introduction:
In April 2023, a Sudanese National with British citizenship named Adam, along with his pregnant wife and two children, sought refuge in the UK. Upon arrival, they were placed in emergency accommodation due to their vulnerable situation. Three weeks later, the family's homelessness duty was fulfilled, and they were relocated to temporary accommodation. However, their journey was beset with challenges, particularly concerning the stalling of Universal Credit due to issues with the partner's National Insurance Number (NINO), which had been applied for but not yet issued. Additionally, amidst these difficulties, Adam's wife gave birth to a baby in the first week of their arrival in the UK.

Background:
The family's transition to the UK was marked by uncertainties and hurdles. The delay in acquiring the NINO hindered the processing of Universal Credit, placing financial strain on the family. In the midst of these challenges, a new addition to the family further emphasized the urgency of resolving their welfare and housing situation.

Challenges:
The primary challenges faced by Adam and his family included the delayed issuance of the partner's NINO, resulting in the suspension of Universal Credit. This left the family in a precarious financial position, especially with the arrival of a new member. Additionally, there were overlooked arrears on emergency accommodation due to a missing habitual residence test, a requirement changed in Sudanese refugee rules on May 15, 2023. These issues jeopardised the family's stability and well-being.

Action:
The intervention of a dedicated link worker played a pivotal role in addressing the challenges faced by Adam and his family. The link worker took proactive measures, including:

1. Escalating the Universal Credit claim to DWP partnership managers, rectifying the NINO issue, and ensuring the claim's prompt processing and payment.
2. Assisting the family in accessing essential resources such as food banks and crisis prevention funds to alleviate immediate financial pressures during the waiting period for Universal Credit.
3. Identifying and rectifying a £2100 arrears on emergency accommodation by addressing the missing habitual residence test requirement.
4. Successfully securing a Child Benefit claim for all three children, providing crucial financial support for the growing family.
5. Facilitating access to Healthy Start vouchers to ensure the well-being of the newborn and the entire family.
6. Initiating the setup with the housing register to progress a comprehensive housing support plan, ensuring the family's long-term stability.

Conclusion:
Through the diligent efforts of the link worker, Adam and his family were able to overcome the challenges they faced upon arriving in the UK. The timely resolution of Universal Credit issues, financial support through various channels, correction of accommodation arrears, and securing additional benefits demonstrated a comprehensive and effective support system. This case underscores the importance of proactive intervention and collaboration within the social welfare sector to ensure the well-being and successful integration of vulnerable individuals and families.