DAILY EXPRESS: THE toll of Eastern Europeans claiming benefits has almost trebled in a year – costing the taxpayer more than £125million-a-year.
Around 112,000 migrants who came to Britain to work are now claiming state handouts – the equivalent of one in six of those who have headed here since the EU expanded.
The ever-increasing drain on public funds comes as the number of workers and their families heading from Poland and its neighbours continues to soar.
Critics warned that the pressure on handouts is only set to increase with more and more staying longer and growing older and less healthy.
The Home Office admitted some of the burden is because migrants are now forming families over here. In a separate blow, Ministers were accused of letting asylum run out of control as figures showed that the backlog of failed applicants is growing, not reducing. Ministers were also criticised for not having up-to-date figures on overall net migration.
Blair Gibbs, campaign director of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Migrants who come here should work and pay taxes, but mass immigration is having a direct financial cost on British taxpayers because there are not tight enough rules on claiming benefits.
“Taxpayers don’t want new migrants arriving here and being able to depend on benefits, instead of working.”
Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch UK, said: “The increase in benefit claims is a sign that real life is breaking through. Eastern Europeans will not forever be young, healthy and single and so the social costs can only increase.” Benefits Bill for EU Migrants Trebles (more) By Tom Whitehead
Mark Alexander
