Recent findings indicate that British taxpayers have provided over £10 billion in direct welfare grants to migrants, which now comprises about one in every six pounds spent on Universal Credit.
Figures obtained through an internal government review reveal that from the £61.2 billion allocated annually to the Universal Credit program, which supports unemployed and low-income individuals, £10.1 billion was distributed to foreign nationals residing in the UK last year.
These statistics, released under a Freedom of Information Act request, show that 16.5 percent of the Universal Credit budget was directed toward foreigners.
This marks a notable rise compared to previous years, with £6.3 billion allocated in 2022 and £7.9 billion in 2023, as reported by Broadsheet.
However, the overall costs involved with large-scale immigration programs may not be fully represented by these figures, especially since they don’t include individuals who have become citizens, often referred to as second-generation immigrants.
The Universal Credit scheme is the sole way for foreigners to access state subsidies, and expenditures on education and healthcare for immigrants are accounted for separately.
Additionally, the data does not factor in public funds used for housing asylum seekers. It’s common for many asylum seekers to stay in hotels, with their meals and accommodations covered by taxpayer money.
The program is also limited to individuals who hold ‘indefinite leave to remain’, which necessitates having lived in the UK for a minimum of five years.
This data excludes many migrants from the “Boris Wave,” those who arrived post-Boris Johnson’s immigration policy changes. Ironically, despite commitments to reduce immigration, Mr. Johnson’s policies contributed to this influx.
According to the Center for Policy Research, the long-term cost for migrants who entered after January 2021 could lead to a net financial burden of £234 billion over their lifetimes, which translates to approximately £8,200 for each UK household. They also cautioned that the real costs might be much higher if more migrants are granted residency.
To mitigate this financial strain, Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, stated that a potential victory for his party in the next election could result in replacing indefinite leave with American-style five-year work visas, clarifying that immigrants wouldn’t access welfare benefits available to British citizens.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously acknowledged that large-scale immigration isn’t fulfilling its promise of economic growth and has been detrimental to social cohesion. Yet, he later criticized Mr. Farage for suggesting policies aimed at minimizing the immediate economic effects of the recent wave of migrants.
