UK Government Shifts Asylum Support to Discretionary Basis
The UK government is poised to implement significant changes to its asylum support system. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to announce these reforms on Monday, seeking to address growing concerns about immigration. The proposed amendments will alter existing laws that currently guarantee housing and financial support to asylum seekers who face destitution. Under the new framework, assistance will become “discretionary,” allowing the government to deny help to those deemed able to work or who possess assets.
Mahmood has characterized this initiative as “the most sweeping reforms to tackle illegal migration in modern times.” She stated, “This country has a proud tradition of welcoming those fleeing danger, but our generosity is drawing illegal migrants across the Channel. The pace and scale of migration is placing immense pressure on communities.”
Despite these changes, most asylum seekers currently receiving support are unlikely to be affected. Government sources indicated that existing rules prohibiting most asylum seekers from working will remain unchanged. Approximately 100,000 individuals in the UK are currently receiving asylum support, with the majority accommodated by the state. Roughly one-third of these individuals are housed in hotels, a practice Labour has vowed to end by 2029.
About 8,500 asylum seekers have the right to work due to entering the country on a visa before claiming asylum. Those without visas may also be allowed to work in certain fields if their claims have been pending for over a year through no fault of their own. However, it is understood that most of the 19,000 people waiting for an asylum decision for over twelve months do not meet the criteria for employment.
The government has not disclosed how much it anticipates saving through these reforms. Nevertheless, it stated that asylum seekers who violate rules could face exclusion from financial support, potentially leading to additional cost reductions. A spokesperson remarked, “In a historic move, automatic handouts for those seeking refuge will end. Introduced in 2005 under EU law, the legal duty to provide asylum-seeker support has meant guaranteed, unconditional financial assistance for anyone who claims asylum and would otherwise be destitute. That is ending. Support will no longer be a given; it becomes a discretionary power.”
While these changes are designed to tighten the asylum system, sources clarified that they will not be blanket rules. Individual cases will continue to be assessed, taking mitigating factors into account. The reforms appear aimed at Labour voters who may consider supporting Reform in the upcoming general election. Some Labour MPs express concern that these changes could alienate party supporters, particularly those worried about losing ground to the Greens and Liberal Democrats.
The government is also expected to initiate a consultation regarding “additional requirements migrants could have to follow to receive and retain benefits.” Emphasis will be placed on prioritizing those who contribute and integrate into society.
In a noteworthy aspect of the reforms, Mahmood is likely to announce that individuals granted asylum could be returned to their home countries once it is deemed safe, echoing a controversial model employed by Denmark. Currently, refugees receive protection for five years, after which they can apply for indefinite leave to remain, paving the way for British citizenship.
According to the Sunday Times, the reforms may stipulate that individuals arriving illegally will need to wait 20 years before being eligible for permanent settlement. These proposed changes are expected to apply solely to new arrivals.
Earlier this year, a Home Office delegation visited Copenhagen to study the Danish immigration reforms, which have been overseen by the centre-left Social Democrats. These changes have reportedly helped the party resist electoral challenges from the populist right. Since excluding data from 2020, when travel restrictions due to the pandemic were in place, the number of successful asylum claims processed in Denmark has reached a 40-year low.
Although those targeted by foreign regimes typically receive protection, the Danish government retains the right to return refugees to their home countries when it is deemed safe. The Danish system also imposes stringent controls on which refugees can bring family members to the country, particularly those residing in areas classified as “parallel societies.”
Concerns over potential discrimination have been raised by an EU official regarding these policies. The left wing of the British Labour Party has been vocal in its criticisms of the Danish model, as public sentiment shifts amidst rising small boat crossings over the past five years.
The Reform party has pledged that individuals arriving in the UK via small boats would not be allowed to claim asylum if they were to gain power. As the UK government prepares to unveil these changes, the implications for both asylum seekers and the broader immigration landscape remain significant.
