Needs Arising Otherwise than Solely Because of Destitution
Litigation about the equivalent English provisions to SWSA s 12 has established that the local authority is still responsible for supporting asylum seekers where the need for assistance has arisen otherwise than solely because of destitution or its actual or anticipated physical effects.
For example, a wheelchair bound asylum seeker with spinal cancer was prevented from getting access to her treatment because she lived in NASS accommodation in a multi storey block. The court held that her need for different accommodation had not arisen solely because of destitution or its physical effects, and therefore the council, and not NASS, had a duty to re-house her.
In another case, an asylum seeker had a disability which gave rise to a need for care and attention falling short of calling for the provision of residential accommodation, the court held that the local authority and not NASS had a duty to provide accommodation, living expenses and support for him, because his needs did not arise solely because of destitution.

