Support and backlog are not the same stock
97,519 people were on asylum support at quarter end while 48,758 were still awaiting an initial decision. Those measures overlap without matching.
Separate claims, backlog, support, appeals, and returns.
Use this after the place-led map when you need to keep flows, stocks, route families, and post-decision paths separate.
What matters first
In 2026 Q1, 15,774 asylum claims were lodged and 32,007 initial decisions were made, while 48,758 people were still awaiting an initial decision and 97,519 were on asylum support at quarter end.
Claims and decisions were moving on different tracks
In 2026 Q1, 32,007 initial decisions ran ahead of 15,774 claims by 16,233.
Post-decision exits are still split across lagged systems
Appeals data is only complete through 2023 Q1, while returns run to 2026 Q1 but cover all returns, not just asylum-specific exits.
Use this page
Use the routes page in three moves
This page should explain the national system, not overload the reader with every series at once.
Read the stock and flow model first
If claims, backlog, support, appeals, and returns are read as one measure, the rest of the page becomes misleading immediately.
Use the route findings and case files
Those sections tell you what changed nationally and how the abstract measures land in named places and named hotels.
Open the trend and route ledgers later
The extra charts, route splits, regional maps, and full leaderboards are there to widen the view once the system logic is already clear.
Named case files behind the national numbers
National stocks and flows only become concrete when they land in named hotels, named actors, and specific places. These live case files show where that chain is already public.
Broken chain West Northamptonshireunresolvedprovider money link
Holiday Inn, Flore is public, but the chain still breaks
Holiday Inn, Flore in West Northamptonshire already has a public hotel row and a provider-level money trail. 436 people were on asylum support there at quarter end, with 271 in contingency accommodation.
- 01 Money trail
Serco is the public contract layer attached to this site in the live starter ledger.
Open provider money trail - 02 Place pressure
436 people were on asylum support there at quarter end, with 271 in contingency accommodation.
Open place profile
The money step is provider-scope rather than site-specific.
Visible chain Wakefieldpartialdirect money link
Cedar Court Hotel now links the hotel and money layers
Cedar Court Hotel in Wakefield already has a direct public money row attached. 648 people were on asylum support there at quarter end, with 140 in contingency accommodation.
- 01 Money trail
Asylum accommodation and support contract regional scope: Mears is already the public money row tied to this site.
Open direct money row - 02 Place pressure
648 people were on asylum support there at quarter end, with 140 in contingency accommodation.
Open place profile
Broken chain Epping Forestunresolveddirect money link
Phoenix Hotel is public, but the chain still breaks
Phoenix Hotel in Epping Forest already has a direct public money row attached. 128 people were on asylum support there at quarter end, with 100 in contingency accommodation.
- 01 Money trail
Asylum accommodation and support contract regional scope: Serco is already the public money row tied to this site.
Open direct money row - 02 Place pressure
128 people were on asylum support there at quarter end, with 100 in contingency accommodation.
Open place profile
How to read asylum stock, flow, and churn
This site keeps claims, initial decisions, awaiting-decision stock, and supported asylum stock in separate lanes. That matters because steady local counts can still hide heavy turnover when new people enter support as others leave it.
Quarter-end stock, not throughput
Supported asylum counts show how many people were receiving support at the end of the period. They are not new claims, arrivals, or the number of distinct people seen across the period.
Support is not the same thing as the backlog
People awaiting an initial decision and people on asylum support overlap, but they are not identical groups. Some supported people are further into appeals or on other support routes, while some people awaiting an initial decision are not in the published support count.
Processing and exits move the stock
The stock changes when people enter support and when they leave it through case progression, including grants, refusals, withdrawals, departures, or moves out of the published support categories.
Flat local lines can still hide churn
A place hovering around the same level can mean low movement, or heavy turnover with inflows offset by exits. The published local tables do not show how many different people passed through support in that area.
Initial outcomes are not latest outcomes
Initial decisions show operational output at the time of decision. Latest outcomes by claim year can change later through appeals, reconsiderations, or subsequent case progression, so the two measures should not be treated as interchangeable.
People, claims, and claim cohorts are different units
Home Office asylum tables mix quarterly claim flows, quarter-end stock counts, and claim-year cohorts. The site keeps those units separate and does not add them together as if they were one common total.
National stock vs flow
Claims and initial decisions are quarterly flows. Awaiting an initial decision and receiving asylum support are quarter-end stock counts. They interact, but they are not the same measure.
2026 Q1
2026 Q1
As at 31 Mar 2026
As at 31 Mar 2026
Quarterly claims and initial decisions are flows through the period. Awaiting decision and support are stock counts at the end of the quarter.
Support stock and awaiting-initial-decision stock overlap, but they are not identical groups. Support can include people at appeal or on other support routes.
Comparing claims and initial decisions in the same quarter shows operational balance, not the experience of one single claim cohort.
Latest outcomes are grouped by year of claim and can change after appeals or later case progression, so they should not be read as current-quarter decision output.
Deep data Open the extra route charts, regional maps, and full ledgers
Once the stock-flow model is clear, use this section to inspect route splits, trend series, regional concentration, and the wider route tables.
Open the extra route charts, regional maps, and full ledgers
Once the stock-flow model is clear, use this section to inspect route splits, trend series, regional concentration, and the wider route tables.
Claims, decisions, backlog, and support move on different tracks
These recent series show why a fall in the backlog, a rise in decisions, and a flat support line should not be collapsed into one story.
Asylum claims
Quarterly inflow into the asylum system.
Initial decisions
Quarterly operational output. This is not the same thing as latest cohort outcomes.
Awaiting initial decision
Quarter-end stock of people waiting for an initial decision.
Supported asylum stock
Quarter-end stock series to 31 Mar 2026. A rise or fall is a net change in the number of people on support at period end, not the number of new claims or distinct people moving through the caseload. Support stock also overlaps with, but is not identical to, the awaiting-decision backlog.
Latest quarter decision mix
In 2026 Q1, initial decisions exceeded claims by 16,233. That operational balance does not track a single cohort one-for-one.
Latest support stock mix
As at 31 Mar 2026, hotel accommodation accounted for 21.4% of the published support stock.
Claim cohorts resolve over time
Initial decisions are the operational read. Latest outcomes by claim year show what changed later after appeals or subsequent case progression.
Initial grant rate
Estimated grant rate at initial decision for the most recent claim-year cohorts.
Latest grant rate
Estimated latest grant rate for the same claim-year cohorts after later case progression.
Claim year 2021 99.6% latest outcomes known
48,182 claims in the 2021 cohort
Initial grant rate 70.9%
Latest grant rate 80.2%
Latest outcome coverage 99.6%
Initial withdrawals 8,154
Claim year 2022 99.5% latest outcomes known
76,948 claims in the 2022 cohort
Initial grant rate 60.1%
Latest grant rate 67.3%
Latest outcome coverage 99.5%
Initial withdrawals 18,221
Claim year 2023 95.4% latest outcomes known
68,462 claims in the 2023 cohort
Initial grant rate 42.8%
Latest grant rate 47.6%
Latest outcome coverage 95.4%
Initial withdrawals 12,424
Claim year 2024 91.6% latest outcomes known
82,368 claims in the 2024 cohort
Initial grant rate 41.4%
Latest grant rate 44%
Latest outcome coverage 91.6%
Initial withdrawals 11,512
Post-decision path
After an initial refusal or other case progression, some claims move through appeals and some people later leave the UK. The public data here has to stay split again: appeals are asylum-specific but lag badly, while current returns are broader than asylum-only exits.
Appeals complete to 2023 Q1 2026 Q1 all-returns series
Asylum appeals lodged
The latest machine-readable asylum appeals series currently ends at 2023 Q1, so it is materially behind the current claims, decisions, backlog, and support releases.
Asylum appeals determined
Quarterly tribunal-stage output within the asylum-specific appeals dataset.
All returns from the UK
This current quarterly returns series is broader than asylum-only exits. It includes enforced returns, voluntary returns, and refused-entry departures.
Latest appeals mix
In 2023 Q1, asylum appeals data shows the tribunal-stage mix below. This is still an older operational view than the main December 2025 asylum release.
Latest returns mix
In 2026 Q1, the current all-returns series was led by voluntary returns, with enforced returns and refused-entry departures shown separately. This is not an asylum-only denominator.
Appeals are part of the post-decision path for some claims, but the latest official appeals dataset is currently much older than the main asylum releases.
Current returns tables are timely but broader than asylum-only case resolution, so they should not be treated as a clean continuation of the asylum claims denominator.
Latest claim-year outcomes remain the main asylum-specific resolution view because they capture later case progression, including appeals and subsequent decisions, within the asylum cohort model.
Where the split matters most
These route families are the fastest way to show why one-number storytelling breaks the public picture.
Humanitarian routes Year ending March 2026
Safe and legal (humanitarian) grants
190,809
Includes refugee resettlement, refugee family reunion, Ukraine, and BN(O) routes. Do not present as a refugee total.
Scheme status Mixed route family
Local breakdown No single local authority split
Asylum support system 2025-12-31
Supported asylum population
97,519
Quarter-end stock of people receiving asylum support. Changes reflect net movement onto and off support, not the number of distinct people who passed through the system.
Scheme status Not a refugee scheme
Local breakdown Latest local authority snapshot available
Protection-linked family route Year ending March 2026
Refugee Family Reunion grants
16,787
Family route connected to existing protection status in the UK.
Scheme status Not a refugee resettlement scheme
Local breakdown No local authority split
Tracked route trends
The featured route families now have full static trend charts so users can see direction, not just the latest annual value.
Safe and legal (humanitarian) grants
2010 to Year ending March 2026. Last annual move: +115,856.
Supported asylum population
Quarter-end stock series to 2025-12-31. A rise or fall is a net change in the number of people on support at period end, not the number of new claims or distinct people moving through the caseload. Support stock also overlaps with, but is not identical to, the awaiting-decision backlog.
Refugee Family Reunion grants
2010 to Year ending March 2026. Last annual move: -3,340.
Illegal entry routes in the latest year
Different entry methods carry different operational and policy questions. They should not blur.
Small-boat asylum decision groups
Arrival cohorts for 2025. Decision outcomes need their own view, not a single arrivals headline.
Regional pressure map
National route families eventually resolve into regional concentration. Totals and rates tell slightly different stories, so both belong on the page.
Supported asylum by region
North West currently carries the largest total supported asylum count.
total people
19,578 total people in this regional view.
19,578 total people in this regional view.
Quick shortlist Top regions in this view
total people
North West
19,578 total people in this regional view.
Supported asylum rate by region
North East currently has the highest weighted rate per 10,000 residents.
rate per 10,000
26.23 rate per 10,000 in this regional view.
26.23 rate per 10,000 in this regional view.
Quick shortlist Top regions in this view
rate per 10,000
North East
26.23 rate per 10,000 in this regional view.
Full route family ledger
The remaining route families still matter, but they need calmer treatment once the high-volume public confusion is made explicit.
Irregular asylum route 2026
Small boat arrivals
4,441
Not a refugee scheme
Detected arrivals via small boat across the UK.
Local breakdown: No standard local authority split
Refugee resettlement and relocation Year ending March 2026
Afghan Resettlement Programme arrivals
4,409
Scheme family
National yearly arrivals from summary tables; local stock from immigration group tables; quarterly local arrival history from resettlement tables.
Local breakdown: Latest local population snapshot and local quarterly arrivals available
Refugee resettlement Year ending March 2026
UK Resettlement Scheme and predecessor schemes
485
Scheme family
This build groups UKRS, Mandate, VPRS, VCRS, and Gateway to avoid pretending the current local stock table publishes them separately.
Local breakdown: Quarterly local authority arrivals available
Refugee resettlement support model 2025
Community Sponsorship arrivals
12
Scheme support channel
Separate from core resettlement totals because this is a sponsorship mechanism rather than a separate national asylum route.
Local breakdown: Quarterly local authority arrivals available
Humanitarian route Year ending March 2026
Ukraine arrivals
13,700
Not a refugee resettlement scheme
Use arrivals rather than grants when comparing to local authority placement counts.
Local breakdown: Latest local authority arrivals snapshot available
Local pressure leaders
National routes still resolve into local concentration. These tables show where specific pressures actually land.
Supported asylum population
| Area | Value |
|---|---|
| Glasgow City | 3,870 |
| Birmingham | 2,142 |
| Liverpool | 2,053 |
| Coventry | 1,712 |
| Belfast | 1,607 |
| Manchester | 1,606 |
| Nottingham | 1,538 |
| Hillingdon | 1,532 |
Supported asylum rate per 10,000
| Area | Value |
|---|---|
| Glasgow City | 59.51 |
| Hyndburn | 47.87 |
| Blackburn with Darwen | 47.07 |
| Braintree | 46.68 |
| Hillingdon | 46.54 |
| Nottingham | 46.45 |
| Coventry | 46.39 |
| Halton | 45.92 |
Contingency accommodation population
| Area | Value |
|---|---|
| Hillingdon | 1,310 |
| Hounslow | 1,098 |
| Barnet | 992 |
| Manchester | 782 |
| Newham | 697 |
| Birmingham | 589 |
| Croydon | 581 |
| Brent | 575 |
Homes for Ukraine arrivals
| Area | Value |
|---|---|
| Buckinghamshire | 2,216 |
| Somerset | 1,991 |
| Barnet | 1,949 |
| Ealing | 1,766 |
| Wiltshire | 1,756 |
| North Yorkshire | 1,701 |
| Merton | 1,592 |
| Greenwich | 1,410 |
Afghan Resettlement Programme population
| Area | Value |
|---|---|
| Leeds | 671 |
| Birmingham | 641 |
| Islington | 597 |
| City of Edinburgh | 579 |
| Coventry | 553 |
| Bradford | 540 |
| Bristol, City of | 487 |
| Wiltshire | 458 |
Cumulative resettlement arrivals since 2014
| Area | Value |
|---|---|
| Bradford | 833 |
| Coventry | 799 |
| City of Edinburgh | 702 |
| Birmingham | 658 |
| Sheffield | 520 |
| Gateshead | 515 |
| Bristol, City of | 494 |
| Belfast | 419 |
Current limits
This is already publishable, but it is still a constrained read of the route system rather than a complete public operating model.
Small boat arrivals are a national arrival-route series. The published local asylum-support tables do not tell you which supported people arrived by small boat.
The latest local immigration groups table is a stock snapshot as at 31 December 2025, while resettlement local authority data is a quarterly arrivals series.
Awaiting an initial decision and receiving asylum support overlap, but they are not identical published populations. Support is not a synonym for the backlog.
The latest machine-readable asylum appeals dataset currently ends at 2023 Q1, so it lags the current quarterly claims, decisions, backlog, and support series.
A rise or fall in supported asylum stock is net change after both inflows and exits. Grants, refusals, withdrawals, departures, and other case progression can all change the published support count.
A flat local supported-asylum line does not prove there was no movement. Published local tables cannot show how many different people passed through support in an area over the period.
Latest outcomes are grouped by year of claim and can change after appeals or later case progression. They are not the same measure as current-quarter initial decisions.
The current returns series on this page is broader than asylum-only exits because it includes enforced returns, voluntary returns, and refused-entry departures.
Homes for Ukraine, refugee family reunion, and Afghan resettlement should be compared with clear labels because they are not the same kind of route or scheme.