London: Nearly 1.3 million foreigners are now receiving Universal Credit, the British government’s unemployment benefit for unemployed people, according to a report. The latest government figures show that 1,270,107 people who are not British or Irish citizens are receiving this financial assistance.
This is the figure as of last month. In September, it was 1,255,955. As many other benefits have been transferred to Universal Credit, it is not possible to say exactly how many new people are receiving this benefit.
Although the majority of recipients – around 7 million – are British or Irish citizens, there have been allegations that the scheme is overly generous. Around 760,000 of those who receive the benefit are EU citizens, who are entitled to it under the Brexit deal struck with Brussels. Universal Credit is a cash payment that can be given to low-income earners on top of their income or to the unemployed
