CITIZENS Advice Craven and Harrogate has expanded its website in an effort to help EU citizens to carry on living and working in the UK after Brexit.

Citizens of the EU, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK after June 30, 2021. If their applications are successful, they will get either settled or pre-settled status.

A spokesperson for Citizens Advice said: “After December 31, EU nationals might be asked to prove their right to do things like work in the UK, or use the NHS.

“The EU Settlement Scheme is a free scheme which enables EEA and Swiss citizens resident in the UK, and their family members, to obtain the status they will require in order to live, work and study in the UK following Brexit. Even those EU Citizens with a ‘permanent residence’ document need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, or for British Citizenship, to secure their rights in the UK.”

Applications are made via the Government website: GOV.uk.

To help people understand what they need to do, Citizens Advice Craven has expanded its website with information on the scheme in a number of languages.

Edward Pickering, chief executive of Craven and Harrogate Citizens Advice said:”The EU citizens who live and work in our area are valued members of our community; many having been employed as key workers throughout the Covid pandemic.

“Under the current rules, missing the June 30, 2021 deadline will mean that that person will have missed the opportunity to secure their rights to live, work and study in the UK from 2021.

“We don’t want to see that happen. Our service is free, confidential and impartial, designed to help EU citizens in our area navigate any issues they may face with the EU Settlement Scheme application process.”

For more information on the EUSS in several languages: www.cachd.org.uk/euss .