Labour Pressured to Reduce £15 Billion Migrant Benefits Expenditure
Recent figures have exposed the immense financial burden of the UK's welfare system, with foreign national households now receiving close to £1 billion every month. This record-high spending has ignited a heated political debate over the long-term viability of current immigration and social security frameworks.
Staggering Costs and Rising Claims
Data indicates that the annual expense for providing benefits to migrant households in the UK has reached an unprecedented £15 billion over an 18-month span. This equates to an average monthly outlay of almost £1 billion, directly funded by British taxpayers.
The number of foreign nationals claiming Universal Credit has surged dramatically, increasing by 44 per cent in under four years. Statistics reveal that around 1.3 million foreign nationals are currently receiving Universal Credit payments nationwide.
Calls for Policy Tightening
In light of these escalating figures, the Government faces mounting demands to revise eligibility criteria to ensure the sustainability of the welfare state. Suggested reforms include extending residency requirements for settlement and more closely tying the right to remain to an individual's capacity for self-support.
The information was acquired through Freedom of Information requests by the Centre for Migration Control think tank. It encompassed households where at least one claimant is identified as a foreign national, excluding those from the UK, Crown Dependencies, or Ireland, and who had proven through the Habitual Residence Test that Britain is their primary residence.
Expert Analysis and Government Response
Robert Bates, research director at the Centre for Migration Control, stated: "It is a no-brainer that we should be ending benefit payments to foreign nationals, especially those who are unemployed. The British taxpayer does not exist to fund the lifestyle of migrants. It is unconscionable that hardworking men and women are being walloped with tax rises, and experiencing a decline in living standards, while billions are being wasted in this manner."
A breakdown from the CMC shows that £9.5 billion in Universal Credit was distributed throughout 2024, with an additional £5.6 billion in the first half of 2025. Of the 2024 total, £6.7 billion went to households where the foreign national claimant was not employed.
The Government has reacted by unveiling plans to double the standard waiting period before migrants can access benefits from five to ten years. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed in November that migrants would only become eligible for welfare and social housing after obtaining British citizenship, rather than upon being granted settlement as per existing regulations.
A Labour spokesman commented: "This Government is clear: if you come to the UK, you should contribute."
