Latest news with #EUSettlementScheme
North Wales Chronicle
2 days ago
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
What does the universal credit immigration data show?
A total of 7.9 million people were receiving universal credit (UC) as of June 2025, up from 6.8 million a year earlier, according to the Department for Work & Pensions. The vast majority of current claimants are people who live or work in the UK without any immigration restrictions: British and Irish nationals, plus those who have right of abode in the country. Some 6.6 million people were in this category in June, making up 83.6% of all claimants. This is a higher proportion than a year earlier (82.5%) as well as being a jump of one million from 5.6 million. The next largest proportion are people who have a right to live in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme. These accounted for 9.7% of all claimants in June 2025, down from 10.7% a year earlier, though the number of people in this category rose slightly from 732,107 to 770,379. Some 2.7% of claimants were classed as having indefinite leave to remain in the UK, separate from the EU Settlement Scheme, up from 2.2% a year earlier. This status gives people the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as they like and apply for benefits if they are eligible. Some 211,090 people were in this category, up from 150,838 in June 2024. The proportion of claimants who had refugee status was 1.5%, down from 1.6%, though the number rose slightly from 111,011 to 118,749. The percentage in the UK for humanitarian reasons was unchanged year-on-year at 0.7%, with the number up slightly from 51,146 to 54,156. In addition, there was a fall in both the number and proportion of claimants classed as having limited leave to remain, or temporary immigration status, from 1.3% (86,129) to 1.0% (75,267). Overall, people from outside the Common Travel Area of UK and Ireland accounted for 15.6% of UC claimants in June 2025, down from 16.5% in June 2024. This covers the five categories of the EU Settlement Scheme, humanitarian status, refugee status, indefinite leave to remain and limited leave to remain. The number of claimants across these categories increased from 1.1 million to 1.2 million year on year, up by nearly a tenth. But the total number of UC claimants rose by a faster rate, up by nearly a sixth, from 6.8 million to 7.9 million. This is why the proportion of claimants from outside the Common Travel Area shrank year-on-year, from 16.5% to 15.6%, even though the number of these claimants rose. With 83.6% of claimants in June 2025 from inside the Common Travel Area and 15.6% from outside, the remaining 0.8% either had no immigration status recorded (0.4%) or were classed as 'other' (0.4%), such as people no longer receiving UC payments or ineligible partners of an eligible UC claimant. These percentages have changed only slightly in recent years. The proportion of claimants from the Common Travel Area of the UK and Ireland stood at 82.9% three years ago in June 2022, 82.4% in June 2023, 82.5% in June 2024 and 83.6% in June of this year. The proportion from outside the Common Travel Area was 16.2% in June 2022, 16.7% in June 2023, 16.5% in June 2024 and 15.6% in June 2025. The new data also includes a breakdown of universal credit claimants by employment and immigration status. It shows that 34% of people on UC in May 2025 (2.7 million) were in employment and 66% (5.1 million) were out of work. A year earlier the figures were 38% (2.6 million) and 62% (4.2 million). Among the 5.1 million claimants who were not in employment in May 2025, 12% (604,914) were foreign nationals while 85% (4.3 million) were British and Irish nationals or those who have right of abode in the UK. These figures stood at 12% (514,961) and 84% (3.5 million) in May 2024. Of the 604,914 foreign nationals out of work and claiming UC in May this year, 343,741 were in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme; 109,324 had indefinite leave to remain; 60,753 had refugee status; 49,790 had humanitarian status; and 41,306 had limited leave to remain. Universal credit is available to people on a low income as well as those who are unemployed.
Rhyl Journal
2 days ago
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Data shows immigration status of universal credit claimants for first time
Around four in five (83.6%) of those on the benefit as of last month were British and Irish nationals and those who live or work in the UK without any immigration restrictions. This amounted to 6.6 million of the total 7.9 million people on universal credit (UC) in June. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said it had published the statistics 'following a public commitment to investigate and develop breakdowns of the UC caseload by the immigration status of foreign nationals in receipt of UC'. UC is a payment to help with living costs and is available for people on low incomes or those who are out of work or cannot work. The next largest group on UC were people with EU Settlement Scheme settled status who have a right to reside in the UK, accounting for 9.7% (770,379), while 2.7% (211,090) of the total had indefinite leave to remain in the UK. Refugees accounted for 1.5% (118,749) of people on UC, while 0.7% (54,156) were people who had come by safe and legal humanitarian routes including under the Ukraine and Afghan resettlement schemes. A total of 75,267 people – making up 1% of the total on UC – had limited leave to remain in the UK, covering those with temporary immigration status. The rest – some 65,346 people – were either no longer receiving UC payments or had no immigration status recorded on digital systems, the DWP said. Independent MP Rupert Lowe, an ex-member of Reform UK, welcomed the pledge to publish the data, describing it as a 'huge win' for those who had 'relentlessly pushed for this'. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp branded the figures 'staggering' and claimed they are 'clear proof that the Labour government has lost control of our welfare system'. He said: 'Under Kemi Badenoch, we've set out a clear, common-sense position. Universal Credit should be reserved for UK citizens only. This is about fairness, responsibility and protecting support for those who've contributed to this country.' But the Government said the proportion of UC payments 'to foreign nationals has already fallen since last July'. The overall numbers of UC claimants who are refugees, have EU settled status, arrived under a humanitarian route or have either limited or indefinite leave to remain in the UK have risen year-on-year – from 1,131,231 in June 2024 to 1,229,64 last month. However the proportion has fallen, with these categories accounting for 15.6% of the total UC claimants in June, down from 16.5% a year earlier when the Conservatives were still in Government. The number of British and Irish nationals and those who live or work in the UK without any immigration restrictions – covering those in the Common Travel Area (CTA) – rose by almost a million from 5.6 million in June last year to 6.6 million last month. The proportion also rose slightly from 82.5% to 83.6%. A Government spokesperson said: 'People in the UK illegally, with no immigration status, cannot receive Universal Credit, and have no access to public funds. 'But we want to tighten up the system by doubling the current length of time it takes to apply once legal status is awarded, from five to 10 years, as part of a new contribution-based model to settlement. 'We inherited a broken welfare system and spiralling, unsustainable benefits bill. We're acting to reform the system, including tightening these sorts of rules.' People can only access UC if they have an immigration status that provides recourse to public funds. Those with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) cannot claim most benefits, tax credits or housing assistance that are paid by the state. Asylum seekers do not have access to UC as they have NRPF but those granted refugee status – deemed to have been forced to flee their country because of a well-founded fear of persecution, war, or violence – can claim the benefit. The total number of people on UC has risen from 6.8 million in June 2024 to 7.9 million a year later. Just over a third (34% or 2.7 million) of those on UC were in work as of May. While refugees on UC had the lowest rate of employment at 22%, the department said those who have only recently been granted refugee status cannot be in employment at that point as asylum seekers are not permitted to work.
South Wales Guardian
2 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
What does the universal credit immigration data show?
A total of 7.9 million people were receiving universal credit (UC) as of June 2025, up from 6.8 million a year earlier, according to the Department for Work & Pensions. The vast majority of current claimants are people who live or work in the UK without any immigration restrictions: British and Irish nationals, plus those who have right of abode in the country. Some 6.6 million people were in this category in June, making up 83.6% of all claimants. This is a higher proportion than a year earlier (82.5%) as well as being a jump of one million from 5.6 million. The next largest proportion are people who have a right to live in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme. These accounted for 9.7% of all claimants in June 2025, down from 10.7% a year earlier, though the number of people in this category rose slightly from 732,107 to 770,379. Some 2.7% of claimants were classed as having indefinite leave to remain in the UK, separate from the EU Settlement Scheme, up from 2.2% a year earlier. This status gives people the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as they like and apply for benefits if they are eligible. Some 211,090 people were in this category, up from 150,838 in June 2024. The proportion of claimants who had refugee status was 1.5%, down from 1.6%, though the number rose slightly from 111,011 to 118,749. The percentage in the UK for humanitarian reasons was unchanged year-on-year at 0.7%, with the number up slightly from 51,146 to 54,156. In addition, there was a fall in both the number and proportion of claimants classed as having limited leave to remain, or temporary immigration status, from 1.3% (86,129) to 1.0% (75,267). Overall, people from outside the Common Travel Area of UK and Ireland accounted for 15.6% of UC claimants in June 2025, down from 16.5% in June 2024. This covers the five categories of the EU Settlement Scheme, humanitarian status, refugee status, indefinite leave to remain and limited leave to remain. The number of claimants across these categories increased from 1.1 million to 1.2 million year on year, up by nearly a tenth. But the total number of UC claimants rose by a faster rate, up by nearly a sixth, from 6.8 million to 7.9 million. This is why the proportion of claimants from outside the Common Travel Area shrank year-on-year, from 16.5% to 15.6%, even though the number of these claimants rose. With 83.6% of claimants in June 2025 from inside the Common Travel Area and 15.6% from outside, the remaining 0.8% either had no immigration status recorded (0.4%) or were classed as 'other' (0.4%), such as people no longer receiving UC payments or ineligible partners of an eligible UC claimant. These percentages have changed only slightly in recent years. The proportion of claimants from the Common Travel Area of the UK and Ireland stood at 82.9% three years ago in June 2022, 82.4% in June 2023, 82.5% in June 2024 and 83.6% in June of this year. The proportion from outside the Common Travel Area was 16.2% in June 2022, 16.7% in June 2023, 16.5% in June 2024 and 15.6% in June 2025. The new data also includes a breakdown of universal credit claimants by employment and immigration status. It shows that 34% of people on UC in May 2025 (2.7 million) were in employment and 66% (5.1 million) were out of work. A year earlier the figures were 38% (2.6 million) and 62% (4.2 million). Among the 5.1 million claimants who were not in employment in May 2025, 12% (604,914) were foreign nationals while 85% (4.3 million) were British and Irish nationals or those who have right of abode in the UK. These figures stood at 12% (514,961) and 84% (3.5 million) in May 2024. Of the 604,914 foreign nationals out of work and claiming UC in May this year, 343,741 were in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme; 109,324 had indefinite leave to remain; 60,753 had refugee status; 49,790 had humanitarian status; and 41,306 had limited leave to remain. Universal credit is available to people on a low income as well as those who are unemployed.
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
What does the universal credit immigration data show?
A total of 7.9 million people were receiving universal credit (UC) as of June 2025, up from 6.8 million a year earlier, according to the Department for Work & Pensions. The vast majority of current claimants are people who live or work in the UK without any immigration restrictions: British and Irish nationals, plus those who have right of abode in the country. Some 6.6 million people were in this category in June, making up 83.6% of all claimants. This is a higher proportion than a year earlier (82.5%) as well as being a jump of one million from 5.6 million. The next largest proportion are people who have a right to live in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme. These accounted for 9.7% of all claimants in June 2025, down from 10.7% a year earlier, though the number of people in this category rose slightly from 732,107 to 770,379. Some 2.7% of claimants were classed as having indefinite leave to remain in the UK, separate from the EU Settlement Scheme, up from 2.2% a year earlier. This status gives people the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as they like and apply for benefits if they are eligible. Some 211,090 people were in this category, up from 150,838 in June 2024. The proportion of claimants who had refugee status was 1.5%, down from 1.6%, though the number rose slightly from 111,011 to 118,749. The percentage in the UK for humanitarian reasons was unchanged year-on-year at 0.7%, with the number up slightly from 51,146 to 54,156. In addition, there was a fall in both the number and proportion of claimants classed as having limited leave to remain, or temporary immigration status, from 1.3% (86,129) to 1.0% (75,267). Overall, people from outside the Common Travel Area of UK and Ireland accounted for 15.6% of UC claimants in June 2025, down from 16.5% in June 2024. This covers the five categories of the EU Settlement Scheme, humanitarian status, refugee status, indefinite leave to remain and limited leave to remain. The number of claimants across these categories increased from 1.1 million to 1.2 million year on year, up by nearly a tenth. But the total number of UC claimants rose by a faster rate, up by nearly a sixth, from 6.8 million to 7.9 million. This is why the proportion of claimants from outside the Common Travel Area shrank year-on-year, from 16.5% to 15.6%, even though the number of these claimants rose. With 83.6% of claimants in June 2025 from inside the Common Travel Area and 15.6% from outside, the remaining 0.8% either had no immigration status recorded (0.4%) or were classed as 'other' (0.4%), such as people no longer receiving UC payments or ineligible partners of an eligible UC claimant. These percentages have changed only slightly in recent years. The proportion of claimants from the Common Travel Area of the UK and Ireland stood at 82.9% three years ago in June 2022, 82.4% in June 2023, 82.5% in June 2024 and 83.6% in June of this year. The proportion from outside the Common Travel Area was 16.2% in June 2022, 16.7% in June 2023, 16.5% in June 2024 and 15.6% in June 2025. The new data also includes a breakdown of universal credit claimants by employment and immigration status. It shows that 34% of people on UC in May 2025 (2.7 million) were in employment and 66% (5.1 million) were out of work. A year earlier the figures were 38% (2.6 million) and 62% (4.2 million). Among the 5.1 million claimants who were not in employment in May 2025, 12% (604,914) were foreign nationals while 85% (4.3 million) were British and Irish nationals or those who have right of abode in the UK. These figures stood at 12% (514,961) and 84% (3.5 million) in May 2024. Of the 604,914 foreign nationals out of work and claiming UC in May this year, 343,741 were in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme; 109,324 had indefinite leave to remain; 60,753 had refugee status; 49,790 had humanitarian status; and 41,306 had limited leave to remain. Universal credit is available to people on a low income as well as those who are unemployed.
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Business
- Leader Live
What does the universal credit immigration data show?
A total of 7.9 million people were receiving universal credit (UC) as of June 2025, up from 6.8 million a year earlier, according to the Department for Work & Pensions. The vast majority of current claimants are people who live or work in the UK without any immigration restrictions: British and Irish nationals, plus those who have right of abode in the country. Some 6.6 million people were in this category in June, making up 83.6% of all claimants. This is a higher proportion than a year earlier (82.5%) as well as being a jump of one million from 5.6 million. The next largest proportion are people who have a right to live in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme. These accounted for 9.7% of all claimants in June 2025, down from 10.7% a year earlier, though the number of people in this category rose slightly from 732,107 to 770,379. Some 2.7% of claimants were classed as having indefinite leave to remain in the UK, separate from the EU Settlement Scheme, up from 2.2% a year earlier. This status gives people the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as they like and apply for benefits if they are eligible. Some 211,090 people were in this category, up from 150,838 in June 2024. The proportion of claimants who had refugee status was 1.5%, down from 1.6%, though the number rose slightly from 111,011 to 118,749. The percentage in the UK for humanitarian reasons was unchanged year-on-year at 0.7%, with the number up slightly from 51,146 to 54,156. In addition, there was a fall in both the number and proportion of claimants classed as having limited leave to remain, or temporary immigration status, from 1.3% (86,129) to 1.0% (75,267). Overall, people from outside the Common Travel Area of UK and Ireland accounted for 15.6% of UC claimants in June 2025, down from 16.5% in June 2024. This covers the five categories of the EU Settlement Scheme, humanitarian status, refugee status, indefinite leave to remain and limited leave to remain. The number of claimants across these categories increased from 1.1 million to 1.2 million year on year, up by nearly a tenth. But the total number of UC claimants rose by a faster rate, up by nearly a sixth, from 6.8 million to 7.9 million. This is why the proportion of claimants from outside the Common Travel Area shrank year-on-year, from 16.5% to 15.6%, even though the number of these claimants rose. With 83.6% of claimants in June 2025 from inside the Common Travel Area and 15.6% from outside, the remaining 0.8% either had no immigration status recorded (0.4%) or were classed as 'other' (0.4%), such as people no longer receiving UC payments or ineligible partners of an eligible UC claimant. These percentages have changed only slightly in recent years. The proportion of claimants from the Common Travel Area of the UK and Ireland stood at 82.9% three years ago in June 2022, 82.4% in June 2023, 82.5% in June 2024 and 83.6% in June of this year. The proportion from outside the Common Travel Area was 16.2% in June 2022, 16.7% in June 2023, 16.5% in June 2024 and 15.6% in June 2025. The new data also includes a breakdown of universal credit claimants by employment and immigration status. It shows that 34% of people on UC in May 2025 (2.7 million) were in employment and 66% (5.1 million) were out of work. A year earlier the figures were 38% (2.6 million) and 62% (4.2 million). Among the 5.1 million claimants who were not in employment in May 2025, 12% (604,914) were foreign nationals while 85% (4.3 million) were British and Irish nationals or those who have right of abode in the UK. These figures stood at 12% (514,961) and 84% (3.5 million) in May 2024. Of the 604,914 foreign nationals out of work and claiming UC in May this year, 343,741 were in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme; 109,324 had indefinite leave to remain; 60,753 had refugee status; 49,790 had humanitarian status; and 41,306 had limited leave to remain. Universal credit is available to people on a low income as well as those who are unemployed.
