Organisations “chasing their tails” when trying to reach EU citizens

The London Assembly, the 25-member cross-party body tasked with holding the Mayor of London to account, has today written to the Mayor on highlighting the potential issues facing EU citizens in London following Brexit.

The letter from the EU Exit Working Group highlights the lack of data on EU citizens in the UK as a major stumbling block in ensuring those who are eligible to apply for the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) do so before June 2021.

In 2019, it was estimated that 3.7 million EU nationals were living and working in the UK but with the recent announcement that 4.5 million EU nationals have already applied for the EUSS, the true number is yet to be known. The letter raises several concerns including:

• Need for action concerning the hard to reach and vulnerable EU citizens in London
• Gaining clarity over acceptable grounds for a late application to the EUSS
• Ensuring citizens with a permanent residence document understand that they do not have a right to reside after 30 June 2021
• Ensuring employers and authorities understand the rights of Londoners with pre-settled status
• Creation of a communications plan to ensure that local authorities, landlords and employers understand the rights conferred by pre-settled status.