Over 370,000 immigrants are on benefits

dirtydog · 20 Jan 2012 at 08:29

Work-related benefits were being claimed last year by more than 370,000 migrants who originally came to the UK to work, study or visit, the first research of its kind has shown.

The government matched benefit, border control and tax records from 2011.

A look at a sample of 9,000 claimants of certain nationalities found 2% were illegally claiming benefits.

Ministers said it was unacceptable for people to claim benefits in the UK without having worked or paid tax here.

BBC correspondent Naomi Grimley says the government admits it found only a tiny number of cases where migrants were claiming illegally, but the research is likely to prompt a wider debate about whether the welfare system has become too generous and attracted so-called "benefit tourists".

Before the coalition government came to power the nationality of benefit claimants was not recorded.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16643677

Anyone surprised by this? And no surprise that Labour deliberately didn't record the nationality of those claiming benefits, of course they didn't want to let the cat out of the bag - it might puncture the myth that we benefit economically from mass immigration which of course we do not. It enriches a few (businesses and corporations) at the expense of the rest of us.

StriderX · 20 Jan 2012 at 08:31

Doesn't seem that bad, there are several British people who are on benefits they shouldn't be, so why is this any different?

dirtydog · 20 Jan 2012 at 08:32

StriderX said:
Doesn't seem that bad, there are several British people who are on benefits they shouldn't be, so why is this any different?

If they can only afford to support themselves by claiming benefits then they are hardly benefiting the country are they, and should be sent back. No?

Art · 20 Jan 2012 at 08:34

A look at a sample of 9,000 claimants of certain nationalities found 2% were illegally claiming benefits.

So, 98% of them are perfectly honest and legal. Hardly a scandal. I might agree that they should have had a way to provide for themselves before they came but if they're legal in the system then that's a problem with the system, not the immigrants.

dirtydog · 20 Jan 2012 at 08:35

Art said:
So, 98% of them are perfectly honest and legal. Hardly a scandal.

I'm not referring to the illegal ones, although I suspect the official figure is a gross underestimate.

I am referring to the fact that any of them are allowed to claim, even one.

StriderX · 20 Jan 2012 at 08:35

dirtydog said:
If they can only afford to support themselves by claiming benefits then they are hardly benefiting the country are they, and should be sent back. No?

I dunno the added culture is a benefit, obviously the 2% should be kicked in the face though.

Though apparently 54%? have become Citizens, dont know what to say about the rest, there isnt any figure on the differences between benefits.

dirtydog · 20 Jan 2012 at 08:35

StriderX said:
I dunno the added culture is a benefit

Haha so enriching yes?

Jono · 20 Jan 2012 at 08:38

What size of city are we talking about here that would have 370,000 people in it?

Art · 20 Jan 2012 at 08:39

dirtydog said:
I'm not referring to the illegal ones, although I suspect the official figure is a gross underestimate.

I am referring to the fact that any of them are allowed to claim, even one.

There are perfectly good reasons why some should be able to claim. That's the entire point of a welfare system: it doesn't help on the basis of nationality, it helps on the basis of need.

At any rate, the article said that 370,000 immigrants were claiming. Given Wiki's latest estimate of the UK population that's an enormous 0.6% of people in the UK, 98% of which are legal claimants.

Mr Jack · 20 Jan 2012 at 08:41

So someone comes to this country, lives and works here for twenty years, paying taxes all that time, and we're supposed to be upset about it?

Stupid stat is stupid.

Irish_Tom · 20 Jan 2012 at 08:41

Send them back!

No wait – read it properly – it says work related benefits, not job seekers allowance.

There are plenty of benefits you can claim whist being in work (working tax credits for instance) so it looks to me like a mountain>molehill situation.

No wait – send them back!

Cosimo · 20 Jan 2012 at 08:43

Send all the lazy good for nothing local benefit cheats home without a penny. Now that would be something. But wait, they’re not migrants so it’s not a problem.

Number_25 · 20 Jan 2012 at 08:44

You don't really get a lot if you live on benefits, so I don't understand why everyone is so angry with it?

the shadow · 20 Jan 2012 at 08:45

dirtydog said:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16643677

Anyone surprised by this? And no surprise that Labour deliberately didn't record the nationality of those claiming benefits, of course they didn't want to let the cat out of the bag - it might puncture the myth that we benefit economically from mass immigration which of course we do not. It enriches a few (businesses and corporations) at the expense of the rest of us.

Nice

Narj · 20 Jan 2012 at 08:46

Regarding the small minority... It does irk me that able-bodied people are being allowed to claim without ever having worked or paid anything into the system, be they indigenous OR immigrants. Something needs to be done about that IMO because the system is clearly broken.

I know a guy who pays £70 a month rent on a 3 bed property because of the subsidy and benefits he gets. He's never lifted a finger in his life and has 3 kids. People like that need a kick up the rear and to be hauled into purposeful employment, even if it's on something like local beautification projects...

Robbo · 20 Jan 2012 at 08:47

Back, we must send them.

EGuitarStar · 20 Jan 2012 at 08:49

Hmmm, you people do know that you could also quit your jobs and go on benefit too right?

Art · 20 Jan 2012 at 08:50

EGuitarStar said:
Hmmm, you people do know that you could also quit your jobs and go on benefit too right?

Oh yeah, but most of us are also made of better stuff than that.

dirtydog · 20 Jan 2012 at 08:50

Art said:
At any rate, the article said that 370,000 immigrants were claiming. Given Wiki's latest estimate of the UK population that's an enormous 0.6% of people in the UK, 98% of which are legal claimants.

The % of immigrant workers claiming would be more pertinent. Not the % of the entire UK population, much of whom is not even part of the work force.

dirtydog · 20 Jan 2012 at 08:52

EGuitarStar said:
Hmmm, you people do know that you could also quit your jobs and go on benefit too right?

I fear you are missing the point entirely.