More than £7.5bn is being spend on universal credit as over one million foreign nationals are claiming benefits, Government figures have shown.
Figures from the Department of Work and Pensions have shown that households with at least one foreign national claimant received over £7.5billion in benefits in 2023.
Once foreign nationals are granted indefinite leave to remain, and have settled or have refugee status, they become entitled for benefits on the same terms as British citizens.
They are also eligible to receive a state pension.
In addition to the cost of foreign benefit claims, a further £5.4bn goes towards accommodating and supporting a backlog of over 100,000 migrants
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Analysis by the Centre for Migration Control (CMC) has found that Congolese, Iraqi and Afghan people are claiming benefits at four times the rate of British people.
Overall, 40 nationalities are claiming more benifits than British citizens.
The disclosure of the foreign welfare bill comes before Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to announce up to £6bn in benefit cuts.
He has called the system “unsustainable, indefensible and unfair” .
In addition to the cost of foreign benefit claims, a further £5.4bn goes towards accommodating and supporting a backlog of over 100,000 migrants.
This cost quintupled under the previous Government.
The bill is expected to rise as around 800,000 foreign nationals are set to be given indefinite leave to remain in the UK over the next decade following.
This is due to record levels of net migration of around 906,000 a year, according to analysis by the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS).
Conservatives have argued that low-paid and jobless asylum seekers should be banned from remaining indefinitely in the country.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp branded the benefits bill for foreign nationals “unacceptable” and “astonishing”.
He said: “It is immoral that British taxpayers are subsidising nationals of other countries on an industrial scale. No wonder our taxes are so high.
“Research shows low-wage migrants actually cost other taxpayers money. This is why the era of mass migration has to end.
“I have tabled amendments to the Borders Bill to create a legally binding annual cap on immigration numbers and an increase in the visa salary threshold to £38,000 across the board.”
More to follow…
