Guidance

Coronavirus (COVID-19): bereavement scheme for family members of NHS and health and social care workers

Information for family members of NHS workers and independent health and social care workers who have died as a result of contracting coronavirus (COVID-19).

• From: Home Office and UK Visas and Immigration
• Published: 20 May 2020
• Last updated: 16 June 2021 — See all updates

If you’re an EEA national and are eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) you should apply for pre-settled or settled status.

You’re eligible for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) free of charge if you:

• are not eligible to apply to the EUSS
• have permission to be in the UK
• are the family member of an NHS worker, including support staff and contractors, or a healthcare or social care worker who has died as a result of contracting coronavirus

For the purposes of this policy, a family member is defined as:

• a spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner
• a child under the age of 18
• a child over the age of 18 where they previously lived in the UK as a dependent child

You do not need to do anything to receive this status. UKVI will contact employers to identify those eligible and will arrange for you to be granted ILR.

In exceptional and compelling circumstances, wider family members such as parents or grandparents may also be granted ILR, and consideration may also be given to those whose permission has expired.

Each case will be considered individually but this could include, for example, where the person concerned formed part of the deceased worker’s household and they can show that they had significant dependence on them to meet their care needs.

If your family member’s employer has not contacted you and you think you’re eligible, you should email [email protected].

Grants of ILR for the bereavement scheme will be assessed against the suitability requirements set out in the Immigration Rules.

Published 20 May 2020
Last updated 16 June 2021 + show all updates

1. 16 June 2021

   Updated to clarify that, in exceptional and compelling circumstances, wider family members may also be granted ILR and consideration may also be given to those whose permission has expired.

2. 20 May 2020

   First published.