THOUSANDS of elderly and vulnerable EU citizens have missed the deadline for settled status, putting their rights in Britain at risk, a report by peers warned today. 

Only 2 per cent of all applications made were from people aged over 65 — a percentage unlikely to reflect the true number of older EU citizens in Britain. 

The House of Lords European affairs committee report comes after ministers rejected widespread calls to extend the deadline past June 30.

Charities had expressed concerns over elderly citizens struggling with digital technology needed to apply for the scheme and a lack of access to mobile phones and computers. 

Those who failed to meet the deadline for the scheme, which gives EU citizens the right to continue living, working and accessing benefits in Britain, are now at risk of being subject to the government’s hostile environment policies. 

The report is calling on ministers to scrap the scheme’s digital-only approach, as well as allowing people the option of physical documents to prove their status. 

Without these measures, EU citizens in Britain may face discrimination in securing employment and rental tenancies, it warned. 

Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants EU project officer Caitlin Boswell said the report’s findings were “extremely worrying,” but “come as no surprise.

“For two years the government has been warned that marginalised EU citizens are likely to slip through the cracks. Now that the EU Settlement Scheme deadline has passed, we are seeing these warnings become reality and EU citizens feeling the full force of the hostile environment.

“The government must  ensure no-one is left behind by removing the EUSS deadline, reinstating automatic rights and providing physical documentation.”