US EditionData Shows Immigration Status of Benefit Claimants for First Time
UNITED KINGDOM, JUL 15 – More than 1.26 million migrants claim Universal Credit in the UK, with EU nationals the largest group, raising questions about welfare eligibility and public finance sustainability.
- As of June 2025, the UK Department for Work and Pensions reported that the number of Universal Credit claimants had reached 7.9 million.
- This rise is due to the government's continued effort to transfer the remaining 800,000 individuals receiving older benefit types onto Universal Credit before the March 2026 deadline.
- Data published for the first time included immigration status, showing 83.6% of claimants were British, Irish, or had unrestricted rights to live and work in the UK.
- The statistics reveal 1.26 million foreign nationals claim Universal Credit, accounting for 15.6% of claimants, with refugees totaling 118,749 and those with limited leave at 75,267.
- These figures suggest the Universal Credit caseload continues to grow across both UK-born and migrant populations, while the government states it is reforming the system and tightening eligibility rules.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Evening Standard
perspectivemedia.comWhat does the universal credit immigration data show?
The majority of claimants are people who live or work in the UK without any immigration restrictions.
Keir Starmer wants fewer foreign nationals on benefits as it's revealed more than one million claim universal credit
Sir Keir Starmer wants to see fewer foreign nationals claiming benefits while unemployed in the UK, Downing Street said as data showing the immigration status of people claiming universal credit was published for the first time.
DWP lies from the Sun about 'migrants' claiming benefits spread like wildfire
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures about Universal Credit have been jumped on by the corporate media. This is because they are the latest stats on the nationalities of benefit claimants. However, instead of reporting the reality of the situation, right-wing tabloids like the Sun have manipulated the figures to fuel racism and xenophobia on behalf of the Tories and Reform; oh – and Labour as well. Not that facts matter when you’re on …
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- 36% of the sources lean Left, 36% of the sources lean Right
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