The Employment Ban — A Self-Inflicted Cost
The government forces asylum seekers to be dependent on taxpayers — then blames them for costing money. Here is the economic reality.
of asylum seekers want to work
The government will not let them. Source: Lift the Ban Coalition / London Assembly
Since 2002, asylum seekers in the UK have been banned from working while their claim is being processed. The ban lasts for at least 12 months from arrival — often much longer given the current backlog where many wait years for a decision.
During this time they are forced to survive on £49.18 per week — barely half of Universal Credit available to UK citizens.
As of June 2025, over 106,000 people were receiving asylum support — all of whom are prohibited from working and contributing to the economy while they wait. The average wait for an initial decision is currently over 12 months.
What the Ban Costs the Economy
Tax and National Insurance that asylum seekers would contribute if allowed to work. Source: NIESR 2023
Government spending saved if asylum seekers could be self-sufficient. Source: NIESR 2023
Economic contribution to UK GDP if employment ban lifted. Source: NIESR 2023
| Scenario | Economic Impact | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Each refugee — net contribution to public purse | +£53,000 over 12.5 years | Together With Refugees, Nov 2025 |
| Each refugee — net contribution to economy | +£266,000 over 12.5 years | Together With Refugees, Nov 2025 |
| If 50% of those waiting 6+ months found work | +£280 million annually | Refugee Action / Lift the Ban, 2025 |
| Current cost — keeping them unemployed in hotels | £4 billion per year | Home Office Annual Report 2024-25 |
Cost of Banning Work vs Lifting the Ban
of UK voters support allowing asylum seekers to work after 6 months
Source: Lift the Ban Coalition polling
The Manufactured Dependency
The right-wing press complains that asylum seekers cost the taxpayer money. The government's own employment ban is what creates that cost.
Asylum seekers are not allowed to work. They are not allowed to be self-sufficient. They are forced to take £49.18 per week from the state — then blamed for taking it. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research calculates that lifting the ban would save the taxpayer £6.7 billion per year while generating £1.3 billion in new tax revenue . The employment ban is not protecting taxpayers. It is costing them billions.