Plans to Limit Taxpayer Support for Asylum Seekers
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to unveil plans aimed at restricting taxpayer-funded support for asylum seekers, framing the initiative as a necessary step to restore "trust" in the asylum system. In an upcoming speech, Mahmood will articulate the rationale behind these changes, which the Home Office states will take effect in June and focus on providing accommodation and support payments exclusively to "those who genuinely need it."
Government ministers have indicated that the new regulations will also withdraw assistance from asylum seekers who engage in illegal work or break the law.
Legal Changes and Support Criteria
On Thursday, the Home Office will introduce legislation to eliminate the current legal obligation to guarantee support to asylum seekers awaiting decisions who are at risk of destitution. Instead, support will be reserved "only for those who need it," although the department has not yet detailed the criteria for determining eligibility.
The Home Office has suggested that asylum seekers possessing assets might be required to contribute to their accommodation costs, a policy reminiscent of Denmark's approach. Officials have previously mentioned that items such as cars and e-bikes could be considered assets subject to this policy.
Additionally, asylum seekers with the right to work—typically granted after a year of waiting for a decision—may also be excluded from receiving assistance under the new framework. This exclusion would extend to individuals who submit asylum claims after entering the UK on visas that permit employment.
However, the exact number of people affected remains unclear, as the Home Office does not disclose data on how many asylum seekers have the right to work in the UK.
Concerns from the Refugee Council
The Refugee Council, a charity organization, has expressed concerns that these measures could increase rough sleeping and shift financial burdens onto local councils and the National Health Service (NHS). Imran Hussain, the charity's director of external affairs, emphasized that accelerating the processing of asylum claims would be a "far more effective" method to reduce costs.
As of the end of last year, just over 107,003 people in the UK were receiving taxpayer-funded asylum support, including approximately 30,000 housed in hotels. The government has committed to phasing out the use of hotels by 2029 and plans to relocate asylum seekers to more cost-effective large sites, such as former military bases.
Additional Measures and Political Context
Ahead of her speech on Thursday, Mahmood has introduced several measures to strengthen the migration system. These include proposals to make refugee status temporary and plans to cease issuing study visas to four countries.
Addressing members of her party who may be uncertain about her approach, Mahmood is expected to describe her reforms as creating an asylum system that is "compassionate but controlled."
Some left-wing Labour MPs have called for a change in the government's migration policies following the party's defeat to the Greens in last week's by-election in Gorton and Denton.
However, Mahmood will contend that
"restoring order and control at our border is not a betrayal of Labour values, it is an embodiment of them."
