Britain’s ‘broken’ asylum system is creating a ‘conveyor belt’ to a life on benefits, critics warned today.
It came as new figures revealed that despite pledges of a crackdown by ministers, the number of migrants and refugees claiming universal credit has more than doubled since 2022.
A total of 124,833 claimants with refugee status were receiving the payments – which average just over £1,000 a month – according to latest Government figures from last October.
That was on top of another 53,240 people classed as unable to be returned to their home countries because they alleged they would suffer human rights abuses.
In comparison, when the data was first collected in April 2022, there were 64,423 refugees and 3,221 people with humanitarian status receiving the benefit.
The number of refugees with indefinite leave to remain – a status which can be claimed after five years – soared from 95,612 to 218,944 in the same period.
Meanwhile those given limited leave to remain – to live, work or study for six months to five years – also rose, from 68,883 to 76,898.
According to the Department for Work and Pensions data, three-quarters of refugees and two-thirds with leave to remain were not in work, along with 60 per cent of those with humanitarian status.
Tory welfare spokesman Helen Whately accused Labour of presiding over a ‘conveyor belt from the asylum system to the benefits system’
At the same time, the total number of UK, Irish or EU nationals claiming universal credit rose by 47 per cent to 7,773,162.
In response, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately, told the Sunday Express: ‘We’re seeing a conveyor belt from the asylum system to the benefits system.
‘Labour’s failure to stop the boats means the benefits bill for migrants will just keep on going up.
‘Our benefits system can’t cope with the cost of claims from people already in the UK, let alone so many new arrivals.
‘Welfare should prioritise British citizens.
‘Borders without control, welfare without work and bills without end.
‘That’s Labour’s model, and taxpayers are left to pick up the tab.’
John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘This exposes a system that is entrenching welfare dependency at huge public cost.
‘When the majority of refugees and those granted leave to remain are not in work, the model is plainly unsustainable.
‘Britain cannot run an immigration system that feeds directly into long-term welfare reliance.
‘If people are allowed to stay in the UK, the expectation must be swift entry into work and self-sufficiency.
‘If that isn’t happening, ministers need to admit the system is broken and change it.’
Asylum seekers cannot access benefits until their claims have been resolved, the DWP stressed, and nor can most migrants on temporary visas.
A Government spokesman said: ‘Only 1.5 per cent of universal credit claimants are refugees, and overall the proportion of claimants in this country who are foreign nationals has fallen since October 2024.
‘The Home Secretary has announced the end to the UK’s golden ticket deal for refugees.
‘Leave to remain will be cut to 30 months, protection made temporary and settlement extended to 20 years – quadruple the current length.’
