Migrant benefit claims skyrocket to record high as 500 sign up daily | UK | News
Bombshell official figures have revealed that the number of immigrants claiming benefits in Britain has reached an all-time high, with 472 foreign nationals signing up for Universal Credit every day last month.
Approximately 1.3 million immigrants are currently receiving benefits; A jaw-dropping 6.7% increase in just one year will send shockwaves across the country.
The explosive data comes as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood prepares to unveil tough new laws on Thursday that link migrants’ right to settle in the UK to staying off welfare benefits.
Under the ground-breaking “earned settlement” system, foreigners’ path to indefinite leave to remain (ILR) will depend on being able to stand on their own feet without falling on the back of taxpayers, pay National Insurance, keep their noses clean, master English and contribute to society through volunteering.
Immigrants face twice as long wait for permanent residence
In a major change, immigrants will now have to fight for a whopping 10 years (double the current five) before they can even dream of claiming ILR, unless they have made a truly exceptional contribution to Britain.
Those who rely on benefits, break the law or fail to do their part will face an even longer challenge against the ILR and could be deported from the country altogether when their visas expire.
Retroactive rules to avoid ‘Boriswave’ benefits bill ticking bomb
The seismic changes will also affect the 1.6 million migrants who have flocked to Britain since 2020 as part of the “Boriswave” influx, and will impose a retroactive ten-year benefit ban on them from when they became eligible for ILR in January.
The government is scrambling to avert the impending welfare bill disaster, with more than 800,000 of these immigrants languishing in low-wage jobs; This means they and their families could soon be able to claim Universal Credit, as do hundreds of millions of others.
Asylum overhaul and Farage factor increase migration pressure
Mahmood’s no-holds-barred attack on legal immigration comes on the heels of Monday’s major asylum revamp, which undermines refugees’ automatic right to stay and imposes a 20-year wait for permanent settlement on those allowed to stay.
The Conservatives are desperately racing to back down from a surging Reform UK, whose leader Nigel Farage has sent shockwaves through the establishment this autumn by promising to rip the ILR off from non-EU citizens and force them to re-apply under much tougher rules.
Only “net contributors” are welcome in Britain in the long term
Under the Conservatives’ plans, unemployed and low-income migrants would be banned from setting down permanent roots in Britain, with only those who have paid for it for 10 years gaining the right to settle permanently.
“I believe foreign citizens should not be given any aid unless international agreements mandate it,” thundered Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary. “This will put an end to this massive fraud in which British taxpayers are being forced to subsidize immigrants.”
Record-breaking numbers of people seeking immigration aid revealed
Astonishing official data reveals the extent of the immigration benefits crisis gripping Britain.
A staggering 1.27 million migrants claimed Universal Credit last month; That’s the highest number on record and a big jump from 883,000 in spring 2022.
That’s an eye-watering 44% explosion in less than four years.
The vast majority of these (762,000 people) are those eligible to remain under the EU settlement scheme, while a further 219,000 people have already secured ILR, largely after arriving on a work visa. Approximately 125,000 of the applicants are refugees and 77,000 are from family reunification routes.
Last month alone saw a staggering 14,451 new immigrant applicants; 472 people sign up for benefits every day.
But the Government insists the overall rate of foreign applicants has fallen, with a spokesman saying: “The number of Universal Credit applicants in all categories, including British nationals, is rising as we invite tens of thousands of people each month to move from legacy benefits to the modernized system.”
