In the most significant shake-up of Britain's immigration system in a generation, the Labour government has announced plans to strip asylum seekers of their automatic right to housing and financial support.
The End of Automatic Support
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will formally unveil the radical reforms on Monday, signalling a decisive move away from EU-era legislation that has governed UK asylum policy since 2005. The statutory duty to provide support to those seeking refuge will be abolished, with the Home Office declaring that automatic handouts "will end".
Currently, asylum seekers receive accommodation and a weekly payment of £49.18 per person for essentials like food and clothing. If their accommodation provides meals, this reduces to £9.95 weekly. Under the new regime, support will "no longer be a given" and will be contingent on strict conditions.
Stricter Requirements and Temporary Status
The overhaul, inspired by Denmark's strict asylum model, introduces a system where refugee status becomes temporary. The government plans to remove individuals as soon as their home country is deemed safe, moving away from the current system where those granted refugee status can apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years.
According to the Home Office, support could be withdrawn from asylum seekers who:
- Are able to work or have assets
- Fail to comply with removal directions
- Engage in criminal activity
- Work illegally or disrupt accommodation settings
Critically, these changes will apply both to new arrivals and those already within the asylum support system, meaning current recipients could see their support removed.
Political Pressure and Public Trust
The dramatic policy shift comes as Labour battles to restore public confidence in the asylum system amid surging support for Reform UK. Recent YouGov polling places Nigel Farage's party at 26%, ahead of Labour on 19% and the Conservatives on 18%.
Ms Mahmood stated that the "pace and scale of migration" is placing "immense pressure" on communities, adding: "This country has a proud tradition of welcoming those fleeing danger, but our generosity is drawing illegal migrants across the channel."
The reforms represent the latest in a series of government crackdowns, following an immigration white paper earlier this year designed to slash legal migration. With 111,084 asylum applications in the year to June 2025 - the highest since records began in 2001 - the government hopes these measures will reduce incentives for small boat crossings and ensure Britain is no longer a "magnet for illegal migrants".
