UK asylum seekers to repay living costs under new law

Created at 29 Jun · 9:40 PM2 sources↑ Market-relevant2 events

IN SHORT

The UK government plans to introduce a new law requiring asylum seekers to repay around £10,000 for living costs and accommodation. This sum must be repaid before individuals can be eligible for settled status, a move criticized by charities as an unfair tax on refugees.

Key Numbers

£10,000repayment amount for asylum seekers

£4bnannual UK spending on asylum support

13%refugees earning at least £20,000 five years after asylum

25%granted asylum between 2015-2023 in employment within the same year

50%in employment two years after refugee status granted

37%in full-time work eight years after refugee status

£23,000median earnings for those in employment eight years after refugee status

Who's Involved

Shabana Mahmood

UK Home Secretary

Imran Hussain

Director of external affairs at the Refugee Council

Madeleine Sumption

Director of the University of Oxford’s Migration Observatory

Home Office

UK government department responsible for immigration

Refugee Council

Charity criticizing the new plans

University of Oxford's Migration Observatory

Questioned the financial recoupment of the scheme

↳ Why This Matters

The new policy aims to recoup government spending on asylum support and potentially reduce incentives for illegal migration, but critics argue it unfairly burdens refugees and may be financially unviable.

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.

Frequently asked questions

Asylum seekers will be required to repay around £10,000 towards the cost of their accommodation and support.

The plans will be included in the upcoming Immigration and Asylum Bill, which will be put before Parliament on Tuesday.

Charities have called the plan an "unfair, impractical" proposal amounting to an "extra tax on refugees" that could make it harder for families to rebuild their lives.

The government states that asylum support is a right but also a responsibility, and expects those who can contribute to repay the generosity of the British people.

What Happens Next

01The Immigration and Asylum Bill will be considered by MPs on Tuesday.

02Details on income thresholds and specific charges will be set out in secondary regulations.

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Cadence

How It Developed

UK MPs will consider a new law requiring asylum seekers to pay £10,000 for living costs or face denial of settled status.

People granted asylum in the UK will be required to pay back around £10,000 towards the cost of their accommodation and support once they start earning.

Adults with sufficient funds will be asked to pay off the sum over time under new rules included in the upcoming Immigration and Asylum Bill.

The Home Secretary would have the power to adjust the charge and the repayment thresholds in the future.

Around £4bn of taxpayers' money was spent on supporting asylum seekers last year.

The Refugee Council called the plans an "unfair, impractical" proposal amounting to an "extra tax on refugees".

The University of Oxford's Migration Observatory questioned how much money the government would actually be able to recoup through the system.

The Immigration and Asylum Bill will be considered by MPs on Tuesday.

Sources

Refugees will be told to repay around £10,000 under new asylum rulesBBC News

Asylum seekers to pay £10,000 towards living costs under new UK lawThe Guardian