Could someone more versed in immigration issues help me here - do asylum seekers have the right to work?

My understanding is they used to in the past, then this was changed around 2003 - is this correct?

Dates of changes would be appreciated as well.

Many thanks!

Asylum seekers have always needed permission to work. In general, an asylum seeker used to be given permission if they had been waiting more than 6 months for a decision on the asylum claim. This concession was withdrawn in July 2002 (I think).

The policy then was not to allow asylum seekers to work at all, but from 22 July 2003 the policy changed again, so that now permission will usually only be given if the asylum seeker has been waiting more than 12 months, and is at the discretion of the Home Office.