Million migrants claim British welfare benefits, costing billions

Daily Report March 18,2025

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Over a million migrants received universal credit payments in Britain during 2023, costing taxpayers £7.6 billion according to an analysis of government data.

Research by the Centre for Migration Control (CMC) indicates approximately 1,158,000 foreign nationals accessed universal credit, a monthly benefit provided to low-income working-age households to help with housing, childcare and other costs. After receiving refugee status or indefinite leave to remain, migrants become eligible for the same benefits as British citizens.

The think tank’s freedom of information request revealed that households with at least one foreign resident claimed £7.6 billion in universal credit last year. According to the CMC, this figure is likely to rise further due to record immigration levels under previous Conservative governments.

These welfare payments are separate from the £5.4 billion spent on support and accommodation for asylum seekers awaiting decisions on their claims during the same period.

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Anyone else had enough?

More than one million foreigners claiming benefits.

💷 Households with at least one foreign national claimant received more than £7.5bn in universal credit in one year.https://t.co/ZxXLElHHSF

— Tony 🚜🇬🇧 (@Tony40335450) March 17, 2025

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp condemned the figures as “unacceptable,” stating: “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,” he said.

The CMC’s analysis showed significant variations in benefit claims based on nationality, with 40 foreign groups more likely to receive universal credit than British citizens. Census data from 2021 revealed Congolese migrants had the highest claim rate at 445 per 1,000 people.

Migrants Benefitted From £7.6 Billion in Universal Credit Welfare Payments in Britainhttps://t.co/lMxVaxmoz3

— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) March 18, 2025

Following the Congolese were Iraqis (434 per 1,000), Afghans (414), Algerians (361), Eritreans (355), Syrians (352), Somalians (336), Iranians (334), Moroccans (286), and Slovakians (283). In contrast, British citizens claimed at a rate of 100 per 1,000.

Polish nationals formed the largest group of foreign claimants with 89,040 recipients, followed by Pakistanis (85,881), Bangladeshis (54,589), Romanians (45,727), Indians (33,561), Portuguese (32,063), Nigerians (23,627), and Irish nationals (17,933).

Karl Williams, research director at the Centre for Policy Studies, suggested implementing a more selective immigration system focusing on migrants likely to make substantial economic contributions.

These findings coincide with another CMC report highlighting higher crime rates among certain migrant groups. The study found North African migrants were 6.6 times more likely to be convicted of sex crimes than Britons, while Middle Easterners were 3.8 times more likely, and Sub-Saharan Africans 2.6 times more likely.