Strong but Struggling: The Wellbeing of Refugee and Asylum-Seeking Mothers

By. Bridget

What is wellbeing?

Wellbeing is the state of being comfortable, healthy, and happy with oneself, and it is much more than not having any illnesses or diseases: it represents a balance between the physical, mental, and social aspects of health. Being a mother is such a fulfilling role, as you get to nurture and care for a child. However, it’s safe to say that there are moments when it can feel overwhelming: your baby is struggling to sleep, your child is unwell, or they just don’t want to listen! But motherhood isn’t a smooth journey, and the ups and downs are what make motherhood a defining moment in a woman’s life.

For refugees and asylum-seeking women, there are external factors that can make motherhood more difficult than it needs to be. In the UK, Section 95 support grants each individual in a household £49.18 weekly, with additional payments for pregnant mothers (£5.25), babies under 1 (£9.50), and children aged between 1 and 3 years (£5.25). For example, a family could receive £167.54 weekly. For many, this amount may seem like a lot, but like any family, there will always be expenses. These expenses would be for cooking food in a shared kitchen in temporary accommodation in a hostel, buying nappies and formula, and bus passes for the school run. Before you know it, the money is gone and budgeting becomes your best friend. Having to survive on small amounts of money affects a mother’s wellbeing because they are trying to make things last and prioritise the essentials. Furthermore, with the cost-of-living crisis, the financial support received does not increase with the rising prices of items in the shops, meaning fewer items for more money.

Another factor that can affect a mother’s wellbeing is being placed in unsuitable accommodation: as mentioned before, many mothers may find themselves living in a hostel or shared house. This creates a whole new aspect of stress and anxiety in their lives because they have no control over where they will be placed, or whether the “home” is accessible for disabled members of the family. Whilst wrestling with these emotions and uncertainties, a mother will try her best to comfort her children and fill their childhoods with warm memories, despite the many challenges that they face.

Some refugees and asylum-seeking women have had to leave their children behind in their home countries, in the hope of settling in the UK beforehand. This causes so much pain and separation for both the mother and the children, because distance is the greatest barrier that they face. On the 4th of September 2025, the UK government temporarily suspended the family reunion route and, in its place, proposed much stricter requirements for this to happen. These could include an application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge for each application, a delay before new refugees can apply for refugee family reunion, a minimum income, maintenance and accommodation requirements for the sponsor, and English language requirements for family members applying to join the sponsor. This is extremely hard for a mother, as there are more hurdles to jump over to be with her children, and it should not be this way. Family reunions should not be means-based, and the policies of the new Refugee Family Reunion seem to want to deter attempts by people trying to be a family that is not forced to live miles away from each other.

Motherhood is a bittersweet journey as a refugee or asylum seeker, especially with the lingering thoughts of “How do I afford this?” or “When will I see my children?” This Mother’s Day, we want all mothers who resonate with being refugees and asylum seekers to know that you are seen and heard, and you are indeed strong.