Asylum seekers to pay £10,000 towards living costs under new UK law
Means-tested scheme included in immigration and asylum bill condemned by charities for placing tax on refugees
TL;DR
- Asylum seekers in the UK will be required to pay around £10,000 towards their living costs under a new law.
- Failure to repay the means-tested sum will result in denial of settled status.
- Charities have condemned the scheme, calling it a tax on refugees.
- Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that repaying the costs is a responsibility once asylum seekers can contribute.
- An immigration expert noted that less than 15% of refugees earn over £20,000 five years after asylum is granted, suggesting the scheme's financial impact will be small.
- The Refugee Council argues the scheme is unfair and impractical, especially as asylum seekers are banned from working while claims are assessed.
- The Helen Bamber Foundation criticized the proposal as performative cruelty without a credible plan to address asylum system delays.
- The scheme's cost-efficiency depends on income thresholds, which are yet to be detailed.
- Details on thresholds and cost breakdowns are expected to be released in secondary regulations.