Fury as unemployed foreigners ‘receive £10.6bn in benefits’ | UK | News | EUROtoday

New authorities knowledge has proven a rise within the variety of unemployed migrants receiving advantages, prompting debate over migration and welfare coverage. Figures revealed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) present that 771,000 unemployed international nationals have been claiming common credit score in January 2026, up from 497,000 in April 2022.

The Centre for Migration Control (CMC) stated its analysis means that households containing a minimum of one unemployed international nationwide acquired £10.6billion in common credit score between January 2024 and June 2025. This has sparked fury on social media, with folks sharing their views on the figures. One particular person stated: “It’s confusing since socialists and liberals tell us immigrants come here to work. Why do they then need benefits?” Another added: “Don’t see why any government in the world would want to do this?”

The CMC wrote: “£6.7bn of benefits to unemployed migrant households in just 12 months. Equivalent to the annual income tax paid by 900k full time British workers. It could pay for the training of 20k British doctors. End the madness.”

Over the identical 18-month interval, £15.1billion was paid to households the place a minimum of one resident was a international nationwide, that means round 70% of funds to such households went to these with a minimum of one unemployed migrant, based on the CMC.

Total social safety spending in Great Britain is presently forecast to succeed in £323.1billion in 2025–26 over a 12-month interval, with the overwhelming majority paid to UK residents, significantly pensioners, disabled folks, carers and low-income working households.

As of January this yr, there have been 8.4million folks on common credit score.

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People from the UK, Ireland, or with a Right of Abode account for 84.5%, the EU Settlement Scheme made up 9.0%, folks introduced in humanitarian reduction consisted of 0.6% and refugees 1.6%.

Eligibility for common credit score requires passing the Habitual Residence Test, and a few claimants classed as unemployed could also be self-employed or briefly out of labor.

Around 55% of all welfare spending is projected to go to pensioners, whereas important sums are spent on incapacity help, housing prices and youngster advantages.

The DWP stated it continues to watch traits in common credit score claims and critiques eligibility guidelines, as the controversy continues over how one can stability equity, financial contribution and social safety within the welfare system.