Nearly 2 Million Foreign Nationals Receiving UK Benefits and Pensions, Report Finds
Analysis reveals significant numbers of non-British citizens claim Universal Credit, disability benefits, and state pensions, costing taxpayers billions.
Nearly two million foreign nationals are currently receiving benefits or the state pension in Britain, according to recent analysis. The figures highlight that 1.3 million non-British citizens claim Universal Credit, a number that includes 745,000 Europeans who remained in the UK after Brexit. Additionally, 200,000 foreign nationals are receiving sickness benefits, such as Personal Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance. The UK state pension is also being claimed by approximately 400,000 individuals who are not British citizens.
This total support for foreign nationals amounted to £23 billion last year and is projected to increase to £27 billion by the end of the decade. The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), which conducted the research, attributes this rise to the significant increase in immigration in recent years, noting that migrants become entitled to benefits after establishing permanent residency.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith, founder of the CSJ and former Work and Pensions Secretary, stated that the UK's immigration and welfare systems were originally based on the principle that newcomers should be self-sufficient. He expressed concern that rising immigration has increased the welfare bill, particularly as families and businesses face higher taxes. Duncan Smith called for a restoration of contribution and reciprocity to the welfare system and for efforts to help Britons on out-of-work benefits return to employment.
Robert Jenrick, Reform UK's Treasury spokesman, criticized the spending as a "waste of taxpayers' money," arguing that migrants should not expect benefits in the UK as they would not in countries like Japan or India. He questioned the justification for this expenditure, especially in light of potential tax increases.
In response to these concerns, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood had previously proposed extending the waiting period for Indefinite Leave to Remain for migrants. However, she is reportedly considering softening these plans due to opposition from within the Labour party and trade unions.