5.5.2. Individual circumstances

COMMON ANALYSIS
Last update: August 2023

In addition to the general situation in the area of potential IPA, the assessment whether it is reasonable to settle in that part of the country should take into account the individual circumstances of the applicant, including his/her vulnerabilities and coping mechanisms.

Please note that this is a non-exhaustive list:

• Support network: recourse to non-State support networks represents the most frequent coping mechanism adopted by all categories of the population to access social protection and economic resources. A support network can be the family network, not restricted to the core family, but also including the extended family, and/or a social network, in particular: friends, employers, especially when there is a certain point of contact, etc., taking into account their ability to assist the person in accessing basic subsistence. 
• Age: young age as well as elderly age could significantly limit the applicant’s access to means of subsistence such as through employment, making him or her dependent on other providers. Therefore, this element should be seen in conjunction with the available support by family or a broader support network. In the case of children, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration, for example, with regard to access to basic education. Many low-income families could not afford education for their children. Access to education of children whose parents do not hold identification documents is also difficult.
• Gender: women and girls in Belgravia may be subjected to discriminatory restrictions and may need the support of a male family member in order to access different services and to exercise certain rights. Therefore, the gender of the applicant should be taken into account when considering reasonableness in conjunction with their family status and available support.
• State of health: access to healthcare is strained in the capital city, making the health status of the applicant an important consideration when assessing the reasonableness of IPA for those who require medical treatment, also taking into account that their state of health may affect their ability to work and travel. For those with disabilities, access to basic subsistence such as through employment, would be further limited.
• Local knowledge: local knowledge and the existence of certain social ties and connections, either through relatives or through school education or professional experience, would be a relevant consideration, as such ties and knowledge would assist an applicant in settling in the area and in particular in accessing basic means of subsistence and basic services.
• Professional and educational background and financial means: the background of the applicant, their level of education and available financial means should be taken into account when assessing the reasonableness of IPA, and in particular the access of the applicant to means of basic subsistence. Uneducated persons are particularly affected by severe lack of access to the labour market in urban settings. [KSEI 2021, 1.3.6., p. 46]
• Civil documentation: the lack of identification documents may render the applicant unable to access basic services.

These factors would often intersect in the case of the particular applicant, leading to different conclusions on the reasonableness of IPA. In some cases, one or more elements of vulnerability would confirm a conclusion that IPA is not reasonable for the particular applicant, while in other cases, personal circumstances would balance each other.