Blog: EU Settlement Scheme - three months left to apply

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, EU citizens must apply to the EU Settlement Scheme by 30 June 2021 to continue living in the UK and accessing services, including the NHS.

Those affected can make a free application for either settled status (if they have lived in the UK for over five years) or pre-settled status (if they have lived in the UK for less than five years).

We're concerned that there remains a significant number of eligible older EU citizens who have not yet applied to the scheme and could face real difficulty in their lives if they don't do so by the deadline. We estimate that there could be more than 1,600 over 65s in Scotland who are yet to do so.

While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to dominate the news and public consciousness, some people simply may not be aware of the requirement to apply to the settlement scheme. Alternatively, some may just not think it applies to them as they have lived in Scotland for a significant length of time.

Others may have faced practical barriers to applying over the last year – either because they do not have access to the required technology (the majority of people will have to apply online using a smartphone or online) or they have been unable to access the face-to-face support they need due to public health restrictions.

Many of the affected older people could be living in care homes, living with long-term health problems, or living with dementia and other forms of cognitive decline. They might need additional support to apply from family members, friends and carers – which will have been impacted by the restrictions on visiting, travel and indoor socialising. 

Going forward, we are also concerned that older people who successfully apply will still face digital exclusion barriers. Those who apply successfully won’t be sent a physical copy of their proof of immigration status. Instead, they will have to provide proof of their immigration status online when asked by a landlord, a bank, the NHS, the Department of Work & Pensions or others.

For now, the most important thing is to make sure you apply to the scheme by the 30 June deadline. If you don’t apply, you risk losing access to the NHS, social security benefits, the State Pension and housing support.

If you aren’t an EU citizen but you know or care for someone who is, it is worth checking if they know about the scheme and whether they have made an application.