UK Data Shows Migrant-Linked Households Receiving Nearly £1 Billion Monthly in Welfare Benefits

Government figures reveal rising Universal Credit payments to households with foreign nationals, prompting debate over spending priorities and migration policy.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

Households in Britain that include at least one foreign national are receiving nearly £1 billion per month in welfare payments, according to government data obtained through a Freedom of Information request and first detailed in a Telegraph report.

The data, sourced from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and requested by Conservative MP Neil O’Brien, shows that £941 million in Universal Credit was distributed this month to such households. Universal Credit is a benefit designed to support working-age individuals and families with low incomes and is available to migrants once they obtain indefinite leave to remain or refugee status.

The figures indicate a significant increase over recent years. In March 2022, migrant-linked households received £461 million in payments, meaning the total has more than doubled in four years. Over the past year alone, payments rose by nearly 30 percent, from £726 million to the current monthly level.

Overall, households including a foreign national accounted for 15.5 percent of the £6.05 billion in Universal Credit payments issued this month, up from 14.1 percent four years earlier.

Neil O’Brien said the figures reflect broader trends in both migration and public spending. He stated that the pace of welfare expenditure growth and migration has been too rapid and argued that current policies have not sufficiently addressed either issue. He also said that access to long-term residency and benefits may act as a factor influencing migration flows.

Concerns about spending levels have also been raised by some members of the Labour Party. Graham Stringer, MP for Blackley and Middleton South, said government expenditures must be reassessed in light of fiscal pressures. He said spending on foreign claimants should be evaluated alongside potential reductions to other programs, including Personal Independence Payments and winter fuel allowances for pensioners.

According to calculations cited in the Telegraph report, two months of welfare payments to households with foreign nationals would exceed the total projected savings from proposed reductions to winter fuel payments.

Policy responses to the issue have also been proposed. Nigel Farage has suggested eliminating indefinite leave to remain, an immigration status that allows individuals to live and work in the UK without time limits while accessing public benefits and sponsoring family members. He has proposed replacing it with a time-limited work visa system and restricting welfare access to British citizens.

The data underscores ongoing debates in the United Kingdom regarding immigration, public spending, and eligibility for state benefits, as policymakers weigh fiscal considerations against existing legal frameworks governing residency and social support.