Almost 1.5 million migrants claimed Universal Credit last year, according to official figures that are set to pile fresh pressure on Labour over welfare and immigration.
Government data revealed that 1,497,774 foreign nationals received the benefit at some point during the 12 months to December 2025, accounting for 15.6 per cent of all Universal Credit claimants.
The figures mean almost one in six people receiving the benefit were not British citizens.
The data, released for the first time by the Department for Work and Pensions following a Freedom of Information request by the Centre for Migration Control, comes as ministers consider tougher rules on migrants accessing welfare.
Under plans being examined by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, migrants could be forced to wait up to 10 years before gaining indefinite leave to remain, delaying their ability to claim benefits and settle permanently in Britain.
But Tories said Labour was already retreating in the face of mounting opposition from its own MPs, raising doubts over whether the crackdown will ever be fully implemented.
Currently, migrants become eligible for welfare support once they are granted indefinite leave to remain, refugee status or humanitarian protection.
The figures are likely to intensify concerns over Britain’s spiralling welfare bill, which is forecast to rise from £313 billion in 2024/25 to £373 billion by the end of the decade.
Of the nearly 1.5 million migrant claimants, around 899,000 had residency rights under the EU Settlement Scheme.
Another 145,230 were refugees, while 66,497 had humanitarian protection status. A further 332,652 had indefinite leave to remain or limited leave to remain, including family dependants brought to the UK.
The data also showed 54,749 people were listed under “other” immigration categories, while 31,195 had no immigration status recorded on digital systems.
The total is around 200,000 higher than the number recorded as claiming Universal Credit at the end of 2025 because the new figures include anyone who received payments at any point during the year, including those who later found work.
The disclosure comes amid growing alarm over the long term cost of record migration levels.
Research has estimated that foreign care workers and their dependants who arrived in Britain in recent years could cost taxpayers around £9.5 billion in lifetime benefits and public services if they are allowed to remain permanently from this year.
Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said:
“The Conservatives would ban all benefits claims by immigrants, except EU citizens with permanent settlement here. This ban would apply to all immigrants who are not British citizens.
“Foreigners who come here should make a contribution and not take benefits funded by hard-working taxpayers. It is simply unfair and immoral if someone can enter the UK and claim benefits before becoming a citizen.
“Taxpayers who get up early and work hard all day should not be funding benefits for immigrants. Labour’s benefits bonanza has to end.”
Robert Bates, research director at the Centre for Migration Control, said:
“Last year, taxpayers of this country were required to support 1.5 million economically dependent foreign individuals.
“This country is becoming the food bank of the world at a time when British people are seeing a decline in their quality of life.”
The Government says it is proposing to double the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain from five years to 10 years, with migrants expected to meet conditions on earnings, English language ability and contributions to society.
Ministers are also consulting on plans to prevent migrants from accessing welfare until they obtain British citizenship, which can take between one and three years after indefinite leave to remain is granted.
But the proposals have already triggered unrest within Labour ranks.
More than 100 Labour MPs are reported to have signed a letter urging ministers to reconsider the plans, particularly proposals to apply the changes retrospectively to migrants already living in the UK.
Senior Labour figures including Angela Rayner have criticised aspects of the proposals as “un-British”.
Earlier this year, Keir Starmer was forced to water down planned disability benefit reforms following a backlash from Labour MPs concerned about cuts to welfare.
Ms Mahmood has defended the proposed migration reforms as a middle ground between what she described as the “open borders” approach of the Green Party of England and Wales and the “racist” policies of Reform UK.
However, Downing Street has suggested ministers could soften the measures by introducing transitional arrangements for migrants already living in Britain.
Downing Street has been approached directly for further comment.
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