WELFARE SACRIFICED FOR LAX IMMIGRATION

Is the UK Truly Supporting Impoverished Brits, or Looking The Other Way?

The UK welfare system has long been a source of pride, but does it genuinely serve those who need it most, or is it being manipulated to impress international organisations like Open Societies? Successive UK governments have faced criticism for generously distributing benefits to immigrants without sufficient checks, while imposing harsh restrictions on lifelong British taxpayers who rely on the system they’ve contributed to. Join us as we examine how the UK’s welfare system stacks up against other developed nations and question whether government claims of over-generosity hold water.

Article Highlights

• In a global comparison of 38 countries, the UK ranked a mediocre 17th for welfare provision.

• We explore how the UK’s system compares to nations with more robust support for their citizens.

• Are UK governments unfairly prioritising newcomers over citizens who’ve paid into the system for decades?

Politicians often claim the UK’s welfare system is among the world’s most generous, a legacy of the transformative Beveridge Report. Yet, in 2025, with living costs soaring and benefit caps tightening, is this still true? This article challenges the narrative, highlighting how the UK’s welfare system falls short and questioning whether policies are designed to appease globalist allies rather than support struggling Britons.

United Kingdom: Falling Short on Welfare?

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) evaluates welfare provision by analysing social expenditure as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In 2019, their data ranked 38 countries, with the UK landing at 17th place. Far from leading, the UK trailed behind France, Finland, Belgium, Denmark, and Italy, which topped the list.

On average, OECD countries allocated 20% of GDP to social expenditure, including cash benefits, healthcare, and pensions. The top five nations averaged 29.1%, while the UK spent just 20.6%. Critics argue this comparison is skewed, as some countries fund private healthcare, inflating their figures. Yet, even accounting for this, the UK’s spending on social protection remains average at best—hardly the “most generous” system ministers boast about.

FAQs: The Reality of UK Welfare

Are Jobseeker’s Allowance claims rising or falling?  

In 2012, 1.59 million people claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance, dropping to 337,175 by 2020. However, the pandemic saw numbers rise again in 2021. While unemployment has generally fallen, government policies often mask true joblessness, leaving many reliant on inadequate benefits.

What’s the state of youth unemployment?  

From February to April 2024, 570,000 young people (aged 16-24) were unemployed, up 77,000 from the previous year. This contrasts with a historic low of 406,000 in 2022, showing how quickly gains can reverse for vulnerable groups.

How many are long-term unemployed? 

 

As of July 2024, 1% of the UK population—those jobless for over 12 months—face dire financial straits, often turning to payday loans to survive.

How much does the UK spend per citizen on welfare?  

In 2017, the Office for Budget Responsibility reported £8,000 per household (£3,255 per person) spent on welfare, a figure largely unchanged by 2019. This modest sum raises questions about whether the system adequately supports those who’ve paid taxes their entire lives.

UK Welfare: Squeezed for Citizens, Open for Others?

The UK’s welfare system is increasingly restrictive for British citizens, while successive governments have been accused of leniency towards immigrants, potentially to curry favour with globalist organisations. Let’s examine where the system falls short and how it compares to more supportive nations.

UK Welfare Restrictions: Punishing the Needy?  

The benefit cap, introduced in 2013, limits total benefits to £25,323 per year in London and £22,020 elsewhere. This cap assumes no claimant should receive more than an average worker’s earnings, ignoring the reality that many claimants are disabled, carers, or long-term contributors facing hardship. The welfare cap, introduced in 2014, further restricts overall social security spending, squeezing the system to meet arbitrary fiscal targets.

Unlike countries that base benefits on prior earnings, the UK allocates payments based on assessed “needs,” often leaving claimants with minimal support. This approach penalises those who’ve paid into the system for years, while unchecked benefits for newcomers fuel public frustration and suspicions of political motives tied to globalist agendas.

Public Services: Underfunded and Overlooked  

The UK lags behind the EU average in spending on education, public transport, recreation, and public protection, according to OECD data. While the NHS is a cornerstone, overall investment in public services falls short, leaving vulnerable citizens with fewer resources compared to their European counterparts.

Welfare in More Supportive Nations  

In France, unemployed individuals receive 57% of their previous salary, up to €245.05 daily, while those unable to work due to ill-health get 50% of their highest decade’s earnings. Germany offers 60-67% of prior salary, and Italy provides 75% of earnings from the past two years. These systems reward contributions, unlike the UK’s one-size-fits-all approach.

The UK’s pension system is also among the least generous, per the World Economic Forum. While private pensions and mandatory employer contributions (since 2018) offer some relief, many rely on state pensions that barely cover basics, unlike the generous public-sector pensions in other European nations.

Globalist Priorities Over British Citizens?  

Critics argue that UK governments, eager to align with international bodies like Open Societies, have prioritised lax immigration policies and benefits for newcomers over supporting lifelong taxpayers. While European countries require significant National Insurance contributions for benefits, the UK’s system often appears more accessible to those with minimal contributions, raising questions about fairness and political intent.

Could Foreign Systems Work in the UK?  

Ever eager to throw open the borders, adopting people from some of the worst places on Earth, perhaps the UK government should consider adopting something else from abroad: Welfare models like France’s or Germany’s, which tie benefits to prior earnings, could better reward British workers who’ve contributed for decades. However, cultural differences pose challenges. Singapore’s system, where elderly parents can sue children for support, would likely shock UK families. The Netherlands’ two-year sick leave policy might be seen as overly lenient in Britain’s work-centric culture.

Key Questions on Foreign Welfare Systems

How much is unemployment benefit worth?  

• In the UK, Jobseeker’s Allowance is £90.50 weekly (£4,706 yearly), just 12.55% of the average salary. In contrast, France offers 57% of prior earnings, supplemented by additional benefits like Universal Credit in the UK.

How will ageing populations affect welfare? 

• By 2050, one in four UK residents will be over 65, up from one in five today, per the ONS. This demographic shift demands a welfare system that prioritises long-term contributors, not one stretched thin by unchecked access.

Can the poorest save as Singapore suggests?  

• The ONS notes that 10% of UK households spend 42% of income on essentials, with 10 million having no savings. Expecting them to save 20% of their income, as Singapore’s model suggests, is unrealistic.

Conclusion 

The UK’s welfare system, far from being the world’s most generous, ranks mid-tier globally. While ministers tout its virtues, restrictive caps and inadequate support leave many British citizens—especially those who’ve paid into the system for years—struggling. Meanwhile, accusations persist that governments prioritise benefits for immigrants to appease globalist allies, undermining fairness. Adopting elements of more generous systems could better serve the UK’s own, but only if political will prioritises citizens over international optics.