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Publication - Advice and guidance

European Social Fund: participant guidance

Last updated
17 October 2023 - see all updates
Directorate
Economic Development Directorate
Part of
International

Guidance regarding employment status, barriers to employment and qualifications for participants in the European Social Fund (ESF).

This document is part of a collection

Section D: Evidence requirements to support Ukrainian refugees

Ukrainian refugees will enter the UK via:

  • the Ukraine Family Scheme –allows applicants to join family members or extend their stay in the UK
  • the Ukrainian Sponsorship Scheme – allows Ukrainian nationals and their family members to come to the UK if they have a named sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme

When granted permission, Ukrainian individuals will receive either:

  • a UK approved Visa; or
  • a valid Ukrainian International Passport endorsed with a 6 month entry stamp from UK Border Force officials

This entry stamp is evidence of their right to work, study and claim benefits in the UK.  Lead Partners must retain a copy of the individual passport or visa as evidence of eligibility.

Please note that some Ukrainian individuals may have travelled with an expired passport but this must have a formal extension stamp issued by the Ukrainian Government. The Managing Authority will accept this passport as long as it has the extension stamp.

Ukrainian nationals can apply to extend their stay for up to 3 years and will be issued with a biometric residence permit (BRP) as evidence of immigration status. It is the Lead Partners responsibility to follow up with the individual and collect a copy of the biometric residence permit if the individual has extended their stay.

Further information on applying for visas under the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) and UK visa support for Ukrainians can be found on the UK Government website.

Poverty and social inclusion

Ukrainian individuals will fall into one of the key target groups for this priority. Either workless, lone parent or low income households.

There is no requirement to evidence the whole household. Host families or sponsors should be disregarded and assessment should be made on whether the individual meets other eligibility barriers. There is no requirement for individuals to have multiple barriers to employment, however, it is expected that many of the participants will have additional barriers/disadvantages (over and above the main target groups) and this information should still be collected on registration forms and MI Systems (along with the other common indicators). 

Participants should be registered and entered on EUMIS on an individual basis (where appropriate).

First published
16 March 2015
Last updated
17 October 2023 - show all updates

  1. Version 25 and 25 uploaded: minor updates re: Home Office online Right to Work Checking Service

  2. Converted to html and redirected from previous PDF version at https://www.gov.scot/publications/european-social-fund-participant-guidance/.

  3. Version 23 and 24 uploaded: Section D added. Evidence requirements to support Ukrainian Refugees

  4. Version 21 and 22 uploaded: Inclusion of SQA Navigator report as accepted evidence

  5. Version 19 and 20 uploaded: Evidence of settled status for EU Nationals after 30 June 2021; Update to Driving Licence evidence; Annex C – Evidence of settled status for EU, EEA and Swiss Nationals post 30 June 2021.

  6. Version 18 uploaded: Update to footnote, Clarification on barrier Evidence

  7. Version 16 and 17 uploaded: Addition of new barriers; update to accepted evidence; Introduction to Covid-barriers; Evidence requirements for Covid-19 barriers

  8. Version 14 and 15 uploaded: update on driving licence as evidence of right to live; Clarification on eligibility and evidence for Universal Credit.

  9. Version 12 and 13 uploaded: Updated low Income employed thresholds; Updated From Employment Deprived Areas barrier with 2020 postcode checker; Update on requirement for proof of address (proof of address applies retrospectively)_.

  10. Version 11 uploaded: Added sections on participant consent and Omnibus regulation. Points expanded upon for clarity throughout. Annex B added.

  11. Version 10 uploaded: addition of Annex B, additions to Introduction section (Introduction, Project Worker Assessment, Common Indicators); Participant Files section (Registration – Employment Status, Qualifications); Monitoring & Evaluation section (correction of typing mistake); Eligibility – Evidence section (Introduction) and Scottish Qualifications and UNESCO ISCED Levels section (addition of SVQ/MA levels).

  12. Version 9 uploaded: update to Definitions section (Economically Inactive, Low Income Employed and Primary Carer) providing further clarification on evidence requirements.

  13. Version 8 uploaded: definitions section added to and reorganised alphabetically; amendment of definition of ‘low-skilled’; addition of ‘materially deprived’, ‘individuals at risk of becoming NEET’ and ‘Low Income (social inclusion & poverty) barriers; addition of section relating to SI&P target groups; marking common indicators; additions to Introduction section (definitions of ‘supported/unsupported’ participants, ‘certified’ and importance of Project Worker Assessments); addition of Annex A.

  14. Version 7 uploaded: updates to Eligibility and Definitions sections.

  15. Version 6 uploaded: additional examples of evidence documents, LTU update.

  16. Version 5 uploaded: amalgamation of Participant Guidance and Participant Records Guidance documents and updates on referral forms, registers and evidence.

  17. Version 4 uploaded: added hyperlinks to documents on pages 23 and 24.

  18. Version 3 uploaded: spelling mistake amended.

  19. Version 2 uploaded: new logos added; amendment of barriers to employment list.

  20. Version 1 uploaded

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