Azure card will deprive thousands of access to transport and phones, warns JRS-UK

The Jesuit Refugee Service in the UK (JRS-UK) has warned that thousands of people will be facing a harsher Christmas, due to the introduction of the Azure card, in place of supermarket vouchers.  Writing in the December edition of the JRS-UK newsletter, Jessica Kennedy of CITIZENS for Sanctuary highlights the plight of about 9,000 people who came to the UK to seek sanctuary from persecution and whose financial support is being threatened.

' The government has refused their claim but recognises that they cannot return home at the moment, because of the political situation in their home country, a medical issue that makes it dangerous for them to travel, or because they have new evidence and are making a fresh claim for sanctuary,' she writes. 'While they are waiting, they are not allowed to work.  The government provides housing and limited financial support of £35 a week, but not in cash.  The Azure card is being introduced without a proper pilot and with minimal parliamentary scrutiny.  It will also be expensive to introduce - costing £200,000 per annum just to administer.  We already know that it costs £2 extra per week per person to give £35 as a cash substitute.'

JRS-UK (Jesuit Refugee Service) has helped many people to access cash through its supermarket voucher exchange.  Now JRS's exchange - and the many other exchanges around the UK - must close.  In September alone at least £32,000 in vouchers was exchanged for cash.

'There will be a large number of people facing increased difficulties when the exchanges all close,' claims Jessica Kennedy. 'The new Azure card is being rolled out across the country between now and February 2010.  The government says that the Azure card will be better than the old supermarket voucher system - because more retailers will accept them.  However, people in this situation, including mothers with children, will still not be able to access any cash for things like public transport, phonecards, haircuts or any other of the many cash purchases we all take for granted.'

For more information, visit www.citizensforsanctuary.org.uk or www.jrsuk.net

Note: CITIZENS for Sanctuary is an alliance of faith, refugee and citizen organisations who work together to campaign for the implementation of the Independent Asylum Commission's recommendations.


 Citizens for Sanctuary

 JRS-UK