Spending on benefits and pensions for foreign nationals totalled about £23bn in 2025, according to estimates from the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), a leading think tank. This figure includes benefits, pensions, and child-related support for non-British nationals.
The CSJ's research indicated that approximately £14.3bn of this spending was for working-age benefits. The think tank also suggested that the total cost could rise to almost £27bn by 2030.
Researchers used data from the Department for Work and Pensions, HMRC, and the Home Office, estimating that around 1.85m non-British nationals received at least one form of welfare support last year. An estimated 400,000 foreign nationals also received the state pension.
The government has stated it does not recognise these figures, with a spokesperson saying they appear to be based on small-sample survey data that is not robust enough for reliable estimates. The government also noted that net migration is down by 82 per cent from its 2023 peak and that only individuals with eligible immigration status can claim taxpayer-funded benefits.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood had planned to double the time after which most foreign nationals can apply for settled status from five to 10 years, applying retrospectively to those who arrived in the UK in 2021.