Checklist

If you have just arrived in England here are some handy hints and links that may prove useful. It may seem like a lot at first but once done everything else will start falling in to place and remember if everything seems overwhelming then you can ask your sponsor, other people that have arrived in the area or you can CONTACT US via email, Whatsapp, Facebook or Viber and we will try and talk you through it as simply as possible.

Newly Arrived

Let the council know you are here. -

They are able to offer support and information and will arrange for someone to come and see you and your sponsor in your accommodation.

You can do this by :-

Phone on 0300 123 6718 - Ukrainian speaking agents available.

Email homesforukraine@lancashire.gov.uk

Apply for the "Welcome Payment" from the council. -

In Lancashire when someone arrives on the Homes For Ukraine Scheme they are given a payment by the council of £350 to help them with initial costs and living until you start working or you can organise benefits payments from the Government.

This can be done by filling in this form.

Gat a UK sim card -

These are available at most major stores and are cheap to start up. You can also go into dedicated stores such as Vodafone, Three, O2, EE and get one. The cheapest sim deals are online but you will struggle to order without a bank account. To compare sim card deals you can go to USWITCH.

Open a UK Bank account -

There are a few different options for Bank Accounts. All the below will offer basic accounts to enable you to make payments and receive funds into the account.

Below are links to the main banks. Type in your postcode into their pages and you will find your nearest branch.

You may decide you want to open an account as soon as possible and the fastest way I have found is online banks such as Monzo. This type of bank can have limitations though if you want to pay in or draw out cash regularly. You can pay money in at a post office but with Monzo there may be a charge for this. Please note you will need to be using an English sim card or connected to wifi for this app to work.

When you arrive you may need to apply for Universal credit depending on your financial circumstances. This is done firstly online and then an appointment will be made at a local job centre for you. You may also be eligible for child benefit if you have children with you.

Universal Credit is money given by the government while you are searching for work. It can also continue if you are on a low income salary. There is a benefit calculator on the below link that will show you what you are entitled to. You will need a UK bank account to do this. They can also explain how to apply for child benefit and make copies of your identification documents with a certified stamp as Child benefit needs to be submitted by post with identification documents.

The link to apply for Universal credit is here.

Apply for a National Insurance number -

You need a National Insurance number (NINO) in the UK to work, claim state benefits like the State Pension, and to ensure that your National Insurance contributions (taxes) and benefit entitlements are properly recorded against your name by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Without a NINO, your contributions may not count towards your State Pension, and you may have difficulty starting a job or claiming welfare benefits. To get a National Insurance Number click here.

Getting a school place for children.

Children go to school at the following ages.

Primary school - 4 - 11 (Start date is the start of the summer term after the child turns 4)

Secondary School 11 - 16.

You must then do one of the following until you’re 18:

stay in full-time education, for example at a college
start an apprenticeship
spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training

For help finding a school place in Lancashire please look here.

Health care in England is covered under the NHS. You should register yourself and any family travelling with you with a local Doctor surgery (GP). A link to local GPs is here. Normally to register you will need to go to the Doctor surgery and collect some initial forms to complete. You can complete these there or at home. They are normally several pages long so usually best to complete at home and return. When returning the forms they will normally require photo ID of each person. Your passport would be ideal.

Once registered with a doctor you can make an appointment to see them by calling or online if available. This is normally for things that are not immediately life threatening but do need someone to check.

You can also call 111. 111 is the telephone number for the NHS 111 service, which provides urgent medical advice for conditions that are not life-threatening emergencies. You can also use 111.nhs.uk or the NHS App for online access. The service helps you determine what to do next when you need medical help fast, such as a non-emergency issue that requires an urgent treatment centre, or if you're unsure who to call.

If you require a dentist you can register with a dentist, however in England we do have a large shortage of dentists and so many do not accept new patients. You will normally find that they do accept children. You can search for dentists here.

If you have a severe dental problem and you are not able to register with a dentist you can call the emergency dental number which is 0300 1234 010. When you call they will be an automated service which will ask you for your postcode. If you do not press anything eventually you will go through to an operator. You can then say the language you need and they will try and get an interpreter on the line with you. They will be able to book you in for emergency dental treatment.

FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCIES THAT REQUIRE URGENT HELP YOU CAN DIAL 999 FROM YOUR PHONE. THEY WILL HAVE INTERPRETERS AVAILABLE TO SPEAK TO.

Pleas note this is for emergencies only that have a immediate threat.