Unfortunately, the EU Settlement Resolution Centre has closed presumably due to Covid-19. It has not been published on the website yet and therefore many may not be aware. When we recently called the helpline, the voicemail confirmed that the centre is closed and enquiries will still be answered via email. There is no information about when the centre will re-open.
This is worrying news as this will directly disadvantage the vulnerable, such as those who are not computer literate. In addition, our own experience with the helpline is that it is more efficient to speak to someone on the phone as you can make sure your query is clearly conveyed and dealt with quickly. In comparison, when you email the helpline, sometimes you receive generic responses which leads you to send a number of emails in order to receive an adequate answer to your question, which is time-consuming.
If the helpline is not accessible to all, it begs the question as to whether there will be any extension to the deadline to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, which is currently 30 June 2021.