EU settlement scheme applications have yet to be made for most children in care wanting to stay in UK claims charity
Applications for the right to stay in the UK through the EU Settlement scheme have not yet been made for the majority of EU children in care and care leavers, research has found.
Applications for just 39 per cent of known children in care or care leavers eligible for the scheme have been submitted, according to the Children's Society.
The charity fears thousands of vulnerable young people may become undocumented "through no fault of their own" after June 30 - the deadline for applications.
This could mean they lose the right to work, claim financial support from the Government, rent a home, hold a bank account or access further education, and could even face deportation.
A child in care's legal guardian or council social worker mustapplytotheeusettlement scheme (EUSS) on their behalf, while local authorities must practically support or signpost careleaverswhoareunder25to make their application.
But the Children's Society said this does not appear to be
happening, with slow progress overthelastyearanduncertainty around how many children need to apply.
Responses from 175 local authoritiestothecharity'sfreedom of Information requests showed that 3,690 looked after children and care leavers were identifiedasneedingtoapplyto the scheme.
Of these, 1,426 applications (39 per cent) have been made, with 28 per cent of these children obtaining secured status, 838 receiving settled and 189 receiving pre-settled status.
This leaves more than 2,000 children and young people without submitted applications, just three months until the deadline to apply.
A previous Freedom of Information request by the charity foundthat730applicationshad been submitted as of January 2020.
This means that in the past year roughly 700 further applications were made.
The Children's Society said it is"doubtful"thatalleligiblechildrenandcareleavershavebeen identified, based on the lack of consistent data.
Chief executive Mark Russell said: "We are very concerned, not only that so many children are yet to have applications made for them, but that no-one seems to know exactly how many children could be affected."