Advice for Ukrainians

Translations

To read this page in Ukrainian, Підтримка громадян України.

To read this page in Russian, Поддержка граждан Украины.

Disclaimer: as the translations linked above are provided by Google Translate, we cannot be held responsible for their accuracy.

This guidance explains your options when you have lived in the UK for six months and includes links to more support. 

Once your UK visa has been issued this means you are now able to enter the UK. 

We fully appreciate you may travel to the UK and stay with your hosts before the accommodation and background checks have been completed.

If you have already arrived or you have your travel date please ask your hosts to e-mail us with your arrival date.

This guide for Ukrainians arriving in the UK covers what you need to know in your first few days, getting used to life in the UK including how to find a home, access essential public services, healthcare, find work and childcare and education services.

The Oxted and Warlingham Ukraine Support Group has produced a welcome guide in English and Ukrainian for Ukrainian guests covering Oxted, Limpsfield, Hurst Green, Tandridge, Warlingham, Woldingham and Caterham.

Adults and children coming to the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme qualify for a £200 per person welcome payment. This is in the form of a payment card and you can collect it from reception in the Council Offices in Oxted.

The card will come with a PIN number and can be used in shops and online. The money cannot be withdrawn from the card or used overseas.

You and your Ukrainian family members will need to come to the Council Offices to collect each card. Please bring your passports and visas for everyone.

Our office opening hours are Monday to Thursday 8.30am-5pm and Friday 8.30am-4.30pm. 

The first thing to do when you arrive at your new home is to make sure you are comfortable in your accommodation and setup with the basics. Please ask your hosts for help.

The welcome guide has lots of information. You can get help from public services:

Benefits

As a Ukrainian arriving in the UK you can claim Universal Credit immediately. You may also be eligible for:

  • Child benefit. Anyone coming to the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme or Homes for Ukraine scheme is entitled to claim child benefit immediately.
  • Housing benefit.
  • Pension credit.
  • Personal independence payment.
  • Child disability living allowance.
  • Carers allowance.
  • Attendance allowance.

Employment

You can access jobs support immediately. The Department for Works and Pensions is putting together support through the Jobcentres to help people:

  • Find work.
  • Provide advice on benefit eligibility.
  • Claim benefits.

Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

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're eligible for.

Your permission letter will tell you if you need to collect your BRP and where to get it when you arrive in the UK.

You need to get your BRP within 10 days of arriving or by the expiry date on your visa, whichever is later.

Fill in the online form to start the process of providing your biometric information.

Getting a National Insurance number

You might already have a National Insurance number if you applied for any benefits or have one on your BRP.

If you do not have one, you need to apply for a National Insurance number to work in the UK.

School admissions

If you have not applied for a school place for your child, you will need to apply for an in year school place. For further advice on school places e-mail Surrey County Council school admissions, or call 0300 200 1004.

Applications for secondary school admissions into year 7 in 2023 can now be made online until 31 October 2022.  Children who are currently in year 6 will need to apply for a school place for year 7.

Rail operators will provide Ukrainian guests with a single onward journey via national rail free of charge on arrival in Great Britain to their final destination.

You have 48 hours to make your onward journey. You only need to show a Ukrainian passport and a boarding pass or ticket showing arrival into the country within the last 48 hours.

All the information is on National Rail Enquiries.

The Government is working with the wider transport industry to see what else can be offered for evacuees arriving in the country.

Temporary bus passes are available for one chosen bus company, for free, for Ukrainians who have arrived in Surrey on the Homes for Ukraine scheme if they travel with one of these bus operators:

  • Compass Travel
  • Falcon Coaches
  • Metrobus
  • Reptons Coaches
  • Southdown Buses
  • Stagecoach
  • White Bus
  • Hallmark/ Diamond

You will need to provide the following to apply for a Homes for Ukraine temporary bus pass:

  • Your name.
  • Your Surrey address.
  • Your date of birth.
  • Your e-mail address.

For more information, visit Surrey County Council’s website.

You can drive without exchanging your Ukrainian driving licence for up to three years if you're living here on one of the Ukraine visa schemes. You’ll then need to exchange it for a British licence.

You do not need to tax or register your Ukrainian plated vehicle for the first three years you are in the UK. Find out more about the requirements you and your vehicle need to meet.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency is providing quick licence approvals and quarantine arrangements to avoid creating additional burdens or delays.

The government will also be covering their vaccination, microchipping and quarantine costs, recognising many individuals from Ukraine will not have been able to complete the full health preparations required for their pet on arrival.

Before arrival, people leaving the Ukraine or their carrier should e-mail the Animal and Plant Health Agency, or call +44 3000 200 301 option 2.

There is more information and guidance on the GOV.uk website.

In an emergency you should call 999.

Adult social care - getting support for a vulnerable adult

Adult social care aims to help people stay independent, safe and well so they can live the lives they want to. This includes people who are frail, have disabilities or mental health issues and the people who care for them. We provide information and advice about care and support, offer short-term help and options for longer-term support if people have more complex needs.

People who have fled Ukraine may arrive with care and support needs and may therefore benefit from adult social care.

Find out about adult social care services in Surrey and who can access them via Surrey County Council's adult social care and support webpages.

If you need further information or advice, you can call 0300 200 1005, e-mail asc.infoandadvice@surreycc.gov.uk or use SMS (for the deaf or hard of hearing) on 07527 182 861.

You can refer to adult social care via Ukrainian.referralsASC@surreycc.gov.uk

Concerns for an adult

If you are concerned that an adult may be at risk of harm, abuse or neglect, please report it.

Call 0300 470 9100 or e-mail ascmash@surreycc.gov.uk (available 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday).

During evenings, weekends and bank holidays, the Emergency Duty Team is available.

Call 01483 517898 or e-mail edt.ssd@surreycc.gov.uk.

Wellbeing

If you are struggling to settle there are lots of places where you can be supported, such as talking to your local GP, visiting the NHS Mind Matters website, or calling the Community Helpline on 0300 200 1008 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays).

If you're thinking about living independently, e-mail the Homes for Ukraine team as there's lots of help and advice we can offer.

Council tax

Ukrainian guests living in private accommodation will be responsible for paying council tax themselves. If all the residents have Homes for Ukraine visas, then they will receive a 50% discount on their council tax bill and may also be able to claim council tax support.

To apply for the discount, e-mail the Council Tax team with evidence you have permission to enter or stay in the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

The 50% council tax reduction only applies to guests who have Homes for Ukraine visas. It does not apply to other schemes such as the Ukraine Family scheme or the Ukraine Visa Extension scheme.

The Ukraine Permission Extension scheme will be available to guests who have come to the UK under one of the Ukraine schemes. This generally means someone who has permission to remain in the UK under either the:

  • Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine)
  • Ukraine Family Scheme
  • Ukraine Extension Scheme

You may also be eligible if you previously had permission to remain under a Ukraine scheme and now hold a valid visa to remain in the UK.

When to apply

Applications will open from early 2025.

You will generally be able to apply within the last 3 months of your existing visa. For example, if your existing visa is due to expire in May 2025, you will be able to apply from March 2025.

Further details will be available on the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme webpage before the scheme opens.