Reimbursement of living expenses after starting work: UK proposes new requirement for refugees
The debate over the cost of supporting asylum seekers has once again heated up in the UK, as the government looks for a way to reduce the burden on the state budget while at the same time changing the rules for people who have been granted the right to work. Against the backdrop of multi-billion-pound housing and maintenance costs for migrants, the authorities are proposing a mechanism under which adult refugees, once they start working, will have to partially compensate for the costs spent on their accommodation.
What the new proposal for the bill entails
As reports the BBC, in the UK, a provision has been introduced into the Immigration and Asylum Bill that could oblige asylum seekers to return about £10,000 to the state. The document is due to be submitted to parliament on June 30.
The requirement will apply to adult refugees who have been granted the right to work in the UK. Once a person starts earning a certain amount, they will have to gradually repay a fixed payment. It is expected that the amount of such a contribution will be 10 thousand pounds.
Payments are planned to be tied to subsequent migration status. According to the proposed mechanism, a refugee must pay the amount in installments before receiving the right to permanent residence in the country. At the same time, the UK Home Office has not yet determined the income level after which a person will have to start payments.
How the government explains such an initiative
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmud said that support for people in need of asylum must be combined with responsibility after they have the opportunity to work and earn.
“Asylum support is a right, but it is also a responsibility. “As soon as people can contribute and thank the British people for their generosity, we expect them to do so,” said Home Secretary Shabana Mahmud.
The government is linking the new rule to the cost of the taxpayer. According to the British Home Office, around £4 billion was spent last year on supporting asylum seekers. A significant part of this money is the cost of housing people while they wait for a decision on their applications.
How much does it cost to stay in asylum seekers
According to the Home Office, the average cost of staying in a single person per night varies significantly depending on the type of accommodation. In public housing, it is £23.25, while staying in a hotel costs around £144 per night.
These figures have become one of the main arguments of the government in favor of the new approach. The authorities believe that people who, after receiving the appropriate status, go to work can gradually compensate for some of the costs that the state incurred during their stay in the support system.
Why human rights activists criticize the bill
The Refugee Council opposed the proposed norm, calling it an “additional tax on refugees.” The organization believes that the requirement to return funds could become an additional financial burden for people who are just starting to settle down after receiving protection.
The director of the Refugee Council, Imran Hussein, drew attention to the fact that many asylum seekers need state support due to restrictions imposed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs itself.
“The reason why many need support is that the Ministry of Internal Affairs itself prohibits asylum seekers from working while their applications are being considered,” says the organization’s director, Imran Hussein.
According to this logic, people cannot earn their own living while waiting for a decision, and after obtaining the right to work, they may face a requirement to compensate for the costs incurred as a result of the previous employment ban.
Will the state really be able to return these funds
Experts from the Migration Observatory of the University of Oxford have questioned the financial efficiency of such a mechanism. Their reservations are related to the fact that many refugees have low incomes or have been outside the stable labor market for a long time.
The director of the Observatory, Madeleine Sumption, cited data that shows limited opportunities for a quick return of funds.
“For example, in 2023, it is estimated that only 13% of people who were granted refugee status five years ago were earning at least £20,000, and the rest were either not working or had lower incomes,” — emphasized the director, Madeleine Sumption.
These figures suggest that a significant proportion of those who could be affected by the new requirement will not have enough income to pay the £10,000 quickly. This could make the practical implementation of the rule more difficult than its political justification.
What will change if the bill is passed
If parliament backs the proposed changes, the UK will have a new mechanism to offset the costs of supporting asylum seekers. Adult refugees who work and reach a certain income level will be required to pay a fixed amount in installments before they can be granted permanent residence.
Key parameters still need to be clarified, including the income threshold, the payment procedure and exemptions for low-income earners. While the bill is still in the parliamentary process, the proposed requirement remains a political initiative that has already sparked controversy between the government, human rights activists and migration policy experts.
