Shocking! Over £7.5 BILLION in UK Benefits Paid to Migrants – More Than 1 Million Non-Brits Cashing In
Government figures have revealed that over £7.5 billion was spent on Universal Credit in 2023, with more than one million foreign nationals claiming benefits. Once foreign nationals are granted indefinite leave to remain, settled status, or refugee status, they become eligible for the same benefits as British citizens, including the state pension. This means they can access financial support for housing, living costs, and other needs, just like anyone else living legally in the UK.
The figures, released by the Department for Work and Pensions, show that households with at least one foreign national claimant received over £7.5 billion in benefits last year. On top of this, an additional £5.4 billion is being spent on housing and supporting a backlog of over 100,000 migrants. This cost has increased significantly under the previous government and is expected to rise further as around 800,000 foreign nationals are projected to be granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK over the next decade. This is due to record levels of net migration, which currently stands at around 906,000 people per year, according to analysis by the Centre for Policy Studies.
Analysis by the Centre for Migration Control (CMC) found that people from countries like Congo, Iraq, and Afghanistan are claiming benefits at four times the rate of British citizens. Overall, 40 nationalities are claiming more benefits than British citizens. These figures have sparked debate, with some arguing that the current system is unsustainable and unfair to British taxpayers.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has described the benefits system as “unsustainable, indefensible, and unfair” and is expected to announce up to £6 billion in benefit cuts. Critics, including some Conservative politicians, argue that low-paid and jobless asylum seekers should not be allowed to stay in the country indefinitely. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp called the benefits bill for foreign nationals “unacceptable” and “astonishing,” stating that British taxpayers should not be subsidizing nationals of other countries on such a large scale.
Philp has proposed amendments to the Borders Bill, including a legally binding annual cap on immigration numbers and an increase in the visa salary threshold to £38,000. He argues that low-wage migrants often end up costing taxpayers more than they contribute, and that the era of mass migration needs to end to reduce the burden on public finances.
The debate over foreign nationals claiming benefits comes at a time when the government is facing pressure to reduce spending and address concerns about the sustainability of the welfare system. Critics of the current system argue that it places too much strain on taxpayers, while others emphasize the importance of supporting those who have legally settled in the UK and contribute to society.
As the discussion continues, the government is expected to take steps to reform the benefits system and address the challenges posed by high levels of migration. However, any changes will need to balance the need for fairness and sustainability with the obligation to support vulnerable individuals, including refugees and those who have made the UK their home.
