Over 1.26 Million Migrants Claim Universal Credit in Britain

Recent data from the UK Department for Work and Pensions reveals that over 1.26 million migrants are now claiming Universal Credit, an increase from 883,470 in 2022. The majority of these migrant claimants are EU nationals, numbering 770,379, followed by refugees, people on humanitarian visas, those with indefinite leave to remain, and individuals on time-limited visas. Of the migrant claimants, 737,799 are unemployed, while 510,970 are employed but still rely on Universal Credit to supplement their income. British and Irish nationals make up the majority of the total 7.9 million Universal Credit recipients, with 6.6 million claimants, including 4.3 million who are unemployed. The surge in migrant claimants has sparked criticism and calls from some politicians and campaigners to reform immigration and welfare policies, including scrapping indefinite leave to remain. These figures highlight growing concerns about the sustainability of welfare spending and its impact on taxpayers, amid ongoing political debate over immigration and social benefits.