UK asylum support repayment plan draws warnings over refugee debt

The UK government’s plan to make some asylum seekers repay support costs could leave people facing debts of about 10,000 pounds, according to Al Jazeera. The proposal matters because asylum advocates say it would follow people after their claims are decided, at a time when many are trying to find stable work and housing.

Al Jazeera reported that the measure is included in the government’s new Immigration and Asylum Bill. The Home Office said the charge would apply to adults who have enough money to pay, with monthly collections above a set threshold and repayment required before a person can qualify for settlement.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said, according to Al Jazeera, that asylum support carries responsibilities as well as rights. The proposed contribution would cover accommodation and subsistence support provided while claims are under consideration.

One asylum seeker, identified by Al Jazeera as Frank, said he could not see how he would afford a bill of that size. Frank, 38, is from Nigeria and asked that his real name not be used. He told Al Jazeera he spends weekdays sleeping rough in southeast London and weekends with relatives, while working part-time under restrictions as his asylum claim is processed.

Frank arrived in the UK in 2019 on a visit visa, according to Al Jazeera, and later sought asylum over fears for his safety linked to kidnappings near his hometown close to Lagos. He said he previously worked as a schoolteacher in Nigeria and is still affected by a leg fracture he suffered in 2024 while running from an immigration check he feared could lead to detention.

He told Al Jazeera that daily life in Britain is already costly and warned that an inflexible repayment plan could trap people financially. He said debt may drive some people away from official systems, and suggested community service or mentoring as alternatives to a large fixed bill.

Former asylum seeker Shams Moussa, 48, told Al Jazeera that the asylum process left people waiting under severe pressure for a decision that could determine whether they could remain in the country. Moussa, who has permanent residency, said the new proposal would not affect him but would affect people he helps through community work.

Moussa said many asylum seekers live on about 50 pounds a week before they have any right to work, according to Al Jazeera. He warned that extra financial obligations could push some people, including women, toward exploitative or illegal work to cover basic costs.

Concepta Cassar, head of policy and communications at Migrants’ Rights Network, described the plan to Al Jazeera as punitive and performative. She said it treats migrants as a cost to the state and would add more insecurity for people who have already endured hardship.

Amina Khanom, director of Reset Communities for Refugees, told Al Jazeera the government should instead speed up asylum decisions, improve early support and create safe routes. She said refugees contribute through work, taxes and community roles once they are able to rebuild their lives.

Al Jazeera cited Home Office data showing earnings often remain low even years after refugee status is granted. Median annual earnings among employed asylum refugees reached 13,000 pounds after eight years, rising to 23,000 pounds for full-time workers and about 10,000 to 11,000 pounds for those in part-time or irregular work, compared with a UK median salary of 35,000 pounds.

Moussa called the repayment idea a political gimmick, according to Al Jazeera, and said people seeking sanctuary want their claims handled quickly so they can work and rebuild their lives. Frank said he feared the proposal also reinforced assumptions that asylum seekers come to Britain for benefits or crime, rather than because they face danger at home.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.