The move-on period refers to the time after someone is granted refugee status or humanitarian protection, before they are evicted from asylum accommodation - in which they need to find alternative accommodation, and secure benefits payments or start a job.
Since December 2024, following sustained advocacy from refugee sector organisations, the Home Office has been trialling an extension of the move-on period to 56 days. In July 2025 it was announced that the trial would be extended to the end of the year, only for this decision to be reversed at the end of August as part of the drive to reduce the numbers of people in asylum hotels. The return to a 28-day move-on period has occurred despite there being no publicly available evaluation from the Home Office of the impacts of the 56-day extension trial.
As of 1st September, the move-on period for most single adults returned to 28 days. Until at least the end of December 20205, the move-on period will remain 56 days for:
- families,
- pregnant women,
- people aged 65 or older, and
- people with a disability (as defined in the Equality Act 2010).
See Right to Remain’s explainer of changes to the move-on period for further information.
There is substantial evidence that the 28-day move-on period contributes to destitution and homelessness amongst new refugees. Research from the Refugee Council, British Red Cross (Still an ordeal), NACCOM and UNHCR shows that 28 days is not enough time to secure housing and benefits payments after receiving refugee status. In light of this evidence, Advicenow has supported the advocacy efforts of refugee sector organisations to extend the move-on period to 56 days.
Advicenow’s upcoming training on Housing Rights for Refugees was immediately oversubscribed, underscoring the challenges already facing voluntary and community sector organisations in supporting refugees around access to housing.
The return to a 28-day move-on period is a step in the wrong direction, and is likely to increase pressures on local authorities and voluntary sector organisations, and exacerbate refugee homelessness.
