MOBILE PHONES
Getting a UK mobile number is one of the first things to do as you will need to provide a mobile contact number for applications and many forms are designed to only accept UK numbers. GUkraine has a supply of free Vodafone SIM cards valid for 6 months from registration with free unlimited calls to Ukraine, free unlimited texts and calls in UK and 20gb of data each month.
WHEN THESE RUN OUT you can choose to get a Contract or ‘Pay as You Go’ SIM with a provider of your choice. If you choose a Contract SIM, make sure the mobile company knows you may wish to end your Contract early if you return to Ukraine and that there are no fees associated with this. Overseas calls from the UK can be expensive. We suggest you research cheap overseas call providers.
You are allowed to keep your UK mobile number when changing provider and/or SIMs, if you request a PAC CODE from your previous provider.
MOBILE PHONE TRANSLATION APPS
We have found the best to be Say Hi Translate. It allows you to hold a conversation in two languages and easily understand each other. It is simple to use and designed to be quick, easy, and uncluttered. Just tap a button and start speaking
EAST EUROPEAN RESOURCE CENTRE
EERC has a dedicated telephone line supporting Ukrainian arrivals and other nationals affected by the war in Ukraine as well as Ukrainians already here prior to the invasion. They provide immigration, welfare, housing and destitution advice, as well as general information and assistance.
Helpline # 07718 612 218 (Monday to Thursday, 10.00-16.00). Calls can be taken in Ukrainian, Russian or English) or email at ukraine@eerc.org.uk
‘I’M UKRAINIAN’ : A NEW APP FOR UKRAINIANS ABROAD
VisitUkraineToday launch a new app which will help guests to find study or work opportunities, visit volunteer hubs, plan joint excursions, and more. Click here for further details.
NATIONAL INSURANCE NUMBER (NI # or NINo)
A National Insurance number is like an ‘identity number’ which is required if you expect to be working in the UK or claiming any form of benefit.
If you applied recently for a Visa, then visit your eVisa immigration account (if you have one) to check if you already have an NI number. You can view your NI number by logging onto your account and looking at the ‘View and Prove’ service. See Immigration Account for details of how to log in.
If you cannot see a NINo in your account, then you will need to apply here.
Once the online form is completed, an email application number is sent to you informing you that your application is being processed. Within 3 days, an NI number should be sent to you in the post to your host address.
Make sure you only have one NI number as this is used to track the contributions you make towards certain services.
BIOMETRIC RESIDENCE PASSPORT (BRP)
The Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) enables your initial visa (valid for 6 months) to be extended to allow you to stay in the UK for a full 3 years. Biometric data such as digital photo and fingerprints are collected and stored on a database. It is also another proof of ID.
If you used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ identity app when applying for your visa (see Applying For A Visa) then you automatically applied for your BRP as part of that and should be able to collect it on arrival in the UK from the nominated Post Office. Check your Permission to Travel letter for full details on how to do this and what documents to take with you.
The following step is only needed if you did not use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app when applying for your visa, or if you did not attend a Visa Application Centre abroad. Although you have 6 months to get a BRP, it’s best to do it sooner.
Apply online and get an appointment for your BRP. See Biometric Residence Permit. #
Note: You do NOT need to have a BRP before you can work in the UK. You have the right to work straight away thanks to your initial 6-month visa. Many employers do not know this.
BANK ACCOUNT
A UK bank account is essential for many day-to-day tasks, such as receiving benefit money, salary from a job, transferring money to / from another country, and paying for things using a bank card or regular bank to bank payments via a process known as a Direct Debit. A UK bank account consists of an account name, a 6-digit sort code which identifies the bank branch (e.g. 12-34-56) and a bank account number to uniquely identify your actual account.
UK banks have strict requirements around proving the identity of people when setting up new accounts and each bank has different rules, which often change with time. The best suggestion is to join the GUkraine ‘Ours in Guildford’ Telegram group and to ask advice from your fellow guests who have recently gone through this process. Register for this Telegram group here. Group members can also inform which Banks charge for money transfers overseas and which don’t.
HOMES FOR UKRAINE SCHEME PARTICIPANTS
Guests: £200 Arrival Payment
Hosts: £350 Thank You Payments. Surrey County Council have increased the payment to £600 per month from November 2022 to April 2023.
Depending on which Borough you are living in (see here), notify your local Council of your/your guests arrival to register for these payments.
RED CROSS £50
Apply for £50 emergency cash with British Red Cross by calling 0808 196 3651 (within 14 days of arrival in the UK).
BENEFITS
England has a benefits system that is designed to support people who
- temporarily need financial help while they look for a job, or
- cannot work due to illness or disability, or
- are over the working age (currently 66 but subject to change).
Note that your benefits start from the date you apply for Universal Credit, not the date you arrived in the UK, so complete your application as soon as possible. Your money will take a few weeks to be paid into your bank account. You can ask for an ‘advance payment’ if you need money immediately and your future payments will be adjusted to compensate for this.
Property in Ukraine does not have to be taken into account when checking if you are eligible for these benefits. Savings and income that you can access are taken into account.
Guildford Job Centre Plus has a dedicated Ukraine team. They will help with information and the procedure to apply for the benefits and support you’re entitled to.
These benefits are not loans (even if called ‘credit’) so, if you are entitled to a benefit from the Government, then we encourage you to accept it, as refusing a benefit doesn’t help other people get money instead, it only harms YOU.
Use an online Government approved benefits calculator tool like Turn2Us to see what benefits you are entitled to, depending on your age, savings, number of children etc. This site has been adapted to consider the needs of Ukrainian guests. You can use the tool every time you want to check what happens to your benefits under different circumstances. The Government does not know what you enter here; it is private.
Types of Benefits
There are two types of benefits:
- Those which depend on what savings and property you have already (these are called ‘means tested benefits’ as you are considered to have some ability or ‘means’ to support yourself).
- Those which don’t (these are called ‘non means tested benefits’)
Means-tested Benefits
The two main means-tested benefit systems are managed by the Government department called the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), of which Job Centre Plus is part of. These are:
- Universal Credit – this is for people aged 18 to 65, who are expected to be able to work. It takes into account many situations, such as whether you have children to support, rent to pay, etc. Universal Credit Helpline: 0800 328 5644
- Pension Credit – this is for people aged 66 and over who are not expected to be able to work.
Non Means-tested Benefits
It does not matter what your situation is (even if you are working), you are entitled to these benefits so it’s worth applying for them as well.
- Child Benefit – worth £21 per week for the first child, and £14 a week for other children. Guildford Job Centre Plus will certify copies of documents for your application so that you do not need to send originals in the post.
- Disability Benefits – the exact type of benefit that you are entitled to depends on your age.
Housing Benefit
Under certain situations, you can get Housing Benefit.
If you are eligible for Universal Credit and need to rent your own accommodation once your sponsorship arrangement has ended, you can already get help with housing costs using your Universal Credit account. However, if your local council has had to find you temporary accommodation because you would be homeless, you will not claim any housing costs under Universal Credit. You would need to claim Housing Benefit instead. Click here to find out how much Housing Benefit you are entitled to.
If you are renting your own property in the UK and are in receipt of Pension Credit, you can also apply for Housing Benefit as part of your Pension Credit claim.
Council Tax Reduction / Support
When you are ready to rent your own place, you are required to pay a tax called Council Tax, which covers the cost of the local council services such as street cleaning, rubbish collection etc.
Further Benefits Help
Further help and advice is available from Guildford Citizens Advice, a charity which helps people with their daily living problems. They can explain what benefits you are entitled to and help you challenge a Government decision around your benefits if you feel an unfair decision has been made. You may need to make an appointment to speak to someone in person.
UK NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE (NHS) DOCTOR (GP)
Your host may be able to recommend a doctor (also known as a General Practitioner/GP) to register with. You do not need proof of ID or immigration status to register.
Click here to register with an NHS GP.
You can request a translator at your appointments if needed.
A GP’s letter or NHS registration letter counts as proof of address for some banks, this is also very useful to do early on as it gives you options for which bank to go with.
England’s NHS provides many services free of charge to Ukrainian guests. The NHS website is full of information about physical health, mental health and various healthcare services. Using the site, you can also find your nearest pharmacy, doctor, dentist, and Accident and Emergency services.
For emergency situations, call 999; otherwise call 111 or visit your GP.
Prescriptions
Your medications will be free in certain cases. Click here for details.
Covid Vaccinations
Please discuss whether you require a Covid Vaccine or booster with your GP.
Mental Health
Speak to your GP if you are struggling with mental health issues and they should then refer you to specialist services for further help.
If you feel you are in a mental health crisis, please call Surrey County Council’s Adult Mental Health Crisis Helpline on 0300 456 8342 immediately. This service is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Click here for full details.
The Barnardo’s charity is also offering a support helpline on 0800 148 8586. Click here for details.
DENTIST
Your host may be able to recommend a particular Dentist to register with. You do not need proof of ID or immigration status to register.
Dental care in the UK is not free. Some dentists will accept NHS patients and fees are reduced for their treatment. There can be long waiting lists to join these surgeries
You may find a dentist using this link Unfortunately, this site is not kept up to date so you may need to double check by phoning the surgery themselves. When you have found a dentist, you should let them know if you are receiving benefits such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit, in which case your check-ups and necessary treatment will be free. Note that getting dental treatment before signing up for Universal Credit can result in increased charges.
WORK
Your entry visa allows you to work straight away on arrival in the UK. You do not need a biometric residence permit or National Insurance number to legally start work. You do not need an employer to ‘sponsor’ you by getting you a sponsorship visa. Your visa entry stamp or ‘Permission to Travel’ letter is sufficient proof of your right to work.
By law, employers must pay a minimum wage.
Age – Current Rate
23 and over – £9.50
21 to 22 – £9.18
18 to 20 – £6.83
Under 18 – £4.81
Apprentice – £4.81
Guildford Job Centre Plus will help you to find employment and has a dedicated Ukrainian team to support you. In addition, there are numerous online websites which list many jobs in the area. Type in your required job title and town into google and many websites will appear.
CHILDCARE
There are a number of childcare options and help towards childcare costs available for parents. See Childcare Choices | 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More | Help with Costs | GOV.UK and Get childcare: step by step – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) for more details of what you are entitled to, depending on your circumstances. If you are on Universal Credit, you can get help with childcare costs. See Benefits for more details. Even if you are not on Universal Credit or are working, you are still entitled to some free childcare.
School Clubs
Some primary schools offer breakfast clubs, where you can drop your child off at around 8 am on your way to work, as well as after school clubs, where your child can remain at school till around 6 pm. This will cost around £20 a day and allows you to have a full day of work. Some costs can be reclaimed if you are on Universal Credit. Places will be limited, so get onto the waiting list as soon as possible.
Childminders
Childminders can be booked for full days or for before and after school times. Again, some costs can be reclaimed if you are on Universal Credit.
Only use childminders that are registered with Ofsted (this means they are checked regularly by the authorities). You can find a list of childminders here: – enter your postcode and this will redirect you to your local council list of providers.
SCHOOL PLACES
Telephone 0300 200 1004 to find a school place (all years) in Surrey. You will be told where there are spaces then you will need to follow the on-line application form here indicating the school where there is space.
For children with special educational needs and/or a disability please contact Surrey County Council’s LSpa (Learners Single Point of Access) team on 0300 200 1015.
FREE BUS TRAVEL TO SCHOOL & BACK FOR UNDER 16s
Ukrainian children can apply for free home to school transport under the same eligibility criteria as all Surrey residents. Click here for information and application form.
HIGHER EDUCATION
The Ukrainian Institute team have compiled a list of Higher Education opportunities and resources for Ukrainian students and scholars in the UK, which is updated regularly. Please note this resource is currently only in English.
Science for Ukraine is seeking to collate opportunities for Ukrainian students and researchers around the world.
Scholars UA has compiled a list of scholarship opportunities for Ukrainian students across the EU and the UK.
FREE 3-MONTH BUS PASS
Surrey County Council provides free 3-month bus passes for guests here under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. Current participating bus companies are Stagecoach, Reptons Coaches, Metrobus, Compass Travel, White Bus and Falcon Coaches. It is hoped that more operators will join the scheme soon.
HOW TO APPLY read here.
ENGLISH LESSONS
FREE English lessons are available through Activate Learning/Guildford College.
ESOL Adults Part-Time Day & Evening English Classes
Day and evening classes for adults who are interested in completing an exam. This course is available for multiple levels and will take place in Guildford College in the Autumn 2022.
For further information: Email: Catherine.Jenkins@activatelearning.ac.uk
ESOL Community Part-Time Day Classes
For adults who are interested in improving their English without completing an exam. These will take place in the community. For further information: Email: Rosamund.Naysmith@ActivateLearning.ac.uk
ESOL Foundation Full-time Courses for 16-18 Year Olds
For young learners who want to improve their English, Maths and IT skills so that they can live and work in the UK. This course is available for multiple levels and can include a vocational area such as Creative Arts and Multi Trades. Click here to apply online.
CLOTHING & SHOES FOR ALL AGES + CHILDREN’S TOYS & BABY EQUIPMENT AT THRIVE @ THE HIVE
Thrive @ The Hive is run by Guildford Borough Council. It stocks
- clothing from new-born to seniors
- kitchen and homeware items
- shoes for all sizes
- toys
- children’s books
- some essential larger items such as buggies
Everything is donated by the community. The quality and cleanliness are of a high standard. All items are available on a pay-as-you-feel basis. This means you can give as much or as little as you like for your items and, if you wish you are welcome to items free of charge. All money donations go back into community projects.
Open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
The Hive, Park Barn Drive, Guildford, GU2 8EN
Delivery service available for those that cannot get there. They need to know: your address, items needed, sizing or age categories.
Telephone: 01483 444150. Email: community.wellbeing@guildford.gov.uk