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Social Security Benefits: Foreign Nationals

Asked by Rupert LoweRestore BritainDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled Answered 14 October 2024UIN 6949

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people of what nationality claiming an out of work benefit are not UK citizens; and what the cost to the public purse is of such benefits.

Answered by Andrew Western

The Department does not hold data on the current nationality of all those claiming benefits. DWP policy responsibility lies in establishing a customer’s eligibility to claim benefits. For non-UK / Irish citizens, an individual’s specific nationality does not play a role in this and the Department therefore does not consistently collect nationality information at the point of benefit claim.

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