Key facts
- Asylum seekers in the UK will be required to repay approximately £10,000 for state-funded living costs and accommodation.
- Repayment is a condition for eligibility for settled status.
- The proposal is part of the upcoming Immigration and Asylum Bill.
- Charities have criticized the plan as an "extra tax on refugees" that could hinder rebuilding lives.
- The Home Office has the power to adjust the charge and repayment thresholds.
The UK government has announced plans to require individuals granted asylum to repay approximately £10,000 towards the cost of their accommodation and support once they begin earning. This measure will be included in the upcoming Immigration and Asylum Bill, which will be presented to Parliament. Adults with sufficient funds will be expected to pay off this sum over time before they can become eligible for settled status.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that asylum support is a right but also a responsibility, and that those who can contribute should repay the generosity of the British people. The Home Office has the authority to adjust the charge and repayment thresholds to ensure fairness to taxpayers and prevent destitution among migrants.
Last year, the Home Office spent around £4 billion supporting asylum seekers. Charities, including the Refugee Council, have criticized the proposal as an "unfair, impractical" plan amounting to an "extra tax on refugees" that would impede families from rebuilding their lives. The Refugee Council also pointed out that the Home Office bans asylum seekers from working while their claims are assessed, making it difficult to repay support.
Experts from the University of Oxford's Migration Observatory expressed skepticism about the amount the government could recoup, citing low employment and earnings rates among refugees. Data indicates that fewer than 15% of people granted refugee status five years prior were earning over £20,000, a threshold significantly below the national living wage. Unless income thresholds are set very low, only a small fraction of asylum grantees are expected to earn enough to contribute to the scheme.