Recent data from Labour Party government figures and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reveals that nearly 1.5 million migrants are receiving Universal Credit benefits. This group represents approximately 15.6 percent—almost one in six—of the 9.6 million people who claimed Universal Credit at some point during the 12 months leading to December 2025.
This number marks a significant increase, with 200,000 more migrant claimants compared to the 1.3 million recorded at the end of 2025.
Conservative Party shadow home secretary Chris Philp called for the government to ban benefit claims by immigrants unless they are EU citizens with permanent settlement status. “Foreigners who come here should contribute rather than draw on taxpayer-funded benefits,” he said. “Allowing non-citizens to claim benefits is unfair and morally wrong.”
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Philp urged the DWP to end these payments, emphasizing that hardworking taxpayers should not fund benefits for immigrants. He described the current state as a “Labour benefits bonanza” that must be stopped.
Robert Bates, research director at CMC, warned that supporting 1.5 million economically dependent foreign nationals strains the country’s resources. He cautioned that without decisive government action to control immigration and benefit claims, the UK faces a looming fiscal crisis.
In response, Labour has proposed increasing the required residency period for migrants to qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) from five to ten years. Eligibility would also become contingent on earning a wage, demonstrating high-level English proficiency, and contributing positively to society.
A Government spokesperson stated that the proportion of Universal Credit claimants who are foreign nationals has decreased in the past year. They confirmed plans to double the residency requirement for migrants to access public funds, ensuring that permanent residents contribute more than they receive.