ASYLUM SEEKERS TO PAY £10,000 TOWARDS UK LIVING COSTS UNDER NEW LAW

Asylum seekers will be required to pay approximately £10,000 towards their state-funded living costs or face denial of settled status under legislation to be debated by MPs on Tuesday. The means-tested scheme, included in the immigration and asylum bill, will allow the home secretary to adjust the charge based on individual circumstances. Successful asylum seekers deemed to have sufficient funds will be asked to pay a flat rate, with full repayment required before eligibility for settlement. The Home Office stated that the amount raised will be "relatively small", as official data suggests fewer than 15% of refugees earn more than £20,000 five years after being granted asylum.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood disclosed the plans as the government faces significant spending pressures, with official figures indicating approximately £4bn spent annually on asylum accommodation and support. Mahmood stated: "Receiving asylum support is a right, but it is also a responsibility. Once people can contribute and repay the generosity of the British people, we expect them to do so." The scheme has been compared by officials to the student loans system. Charities have opposed the proposal, characterising it as punitive towards people who have fled persecution.

The Refugee Council and the Helen Bamber Foundation both criticised the measure. Imran Hussain, director of external affairs at the Refugee Council, said the policy was "unfair, impractical" and would make it harder for families to rebuild their lives, noting that the Home Office prohibits asylum seekers from working during the assessment period. Zoe Dexter, housing and welfare manager at the Helen Bamber Foundation, described the proposal as "performative cruelty". The bill is scheduled for parliamentary consideration this week.