Benefit-claiming migrants failed to meet basic job-search requirements 198,000 times since 2023
New research by the Centre for Migration Control reveals the widespread failure of migrants to meet the basic job-search requirements that they agree to undertake as part of their benefits claims
As reported in The Telegraph.
Between January 2023 and April 2025, there were 198,771 “adverse sanctions” issued by the Department for Work and Pensions against foreign nationals claiming Universal Credit.
Over the same time period, there were a total of 1,356,226 adverse sanctions applied. This means that 14.6% of all adverse sanctions applied over the time period were migrants.
Those receiving Universal Credit, and out of work, are required to enter into a “claimant commitment” with the DWP that includes “appointments with their work coach”, “updating their CV”, “searching for jobs”.
Universal Credit claimants are “sanctioned” when they fail to demonstrate that they are honouring the terms of their “commitment”.
In just 28 months, there were nearly 200,000 instances where an individual had failed to adhere to these pretty modest requirements - which works out at just over 1,600 a week.
Of the 50,655 sanctions issued in April 2025, 7,752 (15%) were against migrants.
In January 2023, there were 5,494 sanctions applied against migrants, but by April 2025 this had increased to 7,752. That is an increase of 41%.
Breakdown
Nationality: There were 99,269 sanctions against EEA nationals, 73,134 against non-EEA nationals, and 26,368 sanctions against migrants whose nationality could not be determined.
Immigration Status: There were 118,563 sanctions against those on the EU Settlement Scheme, 8,092 sanctions against those on humanitarian routes, 29,182 against refugees, 27,737 against those with Indefinite Leave to Remain, 12,732 against those with Limited Leave to Remain, and 2,465 on other or undeterminable immigration statuses.
About ‘adverse sanctions’
To receive Universal Credit, a claimant must commit to a “claimant commitment” which sets out what is expected from them. These “work-related requirements” are designed to ensure those in receipt of public support are not simply drifting into idleness.
Individuals earning the full-time National Minimum Wage, are disabled or have long-term illness, are over pension age, or are the lone carer for a child under one, are not usually required to enter into “work-related requirements”,
For others, either out of work completely, or working less than it is judged that they could, there are a scale of fairly modest requirements that they must meet to justify their continued receipt of state support.
‘Work-focused interview requirements only’: periodic interviews to discuss their potential to return to work.
‘Work preparation and work-focused interview requirements’: attendance at skills assessments, training, improvement in personal presentation, undertaking work experience.
‘All work-related requirements’: spend a set number of hours each week looking for work, take a job offer, or a better paid job, if it arises.
A sanction reduces Universal Credit payments to the individual by 100% for each day that it is in place. The duration varies. At the lowest level, a sanction will simply be in place from the data of the missed appointment until the claimant arranges a new one, at the highest level they will last for three months.
I am shocked, SHOCKED I tell you.