Social Care Costs for Asylum Seekers Soar in England

A new report has revealed the local authorities in England spending the most on social care for asylum seeking children and adults.

The research, by the TaxPayers’ Alliance finds that total spending now exceeds £700 million, with spending on adults alone up by 165 per cent from £50.6 million in 2019-20 to £133.9 million in 2024-25

Manchester spent £22.6m in 24/25 on migrants the third biggest amount in the UK with Kent winning the race with a jaw dropping £41.6m this is on top of the money from Home Office being spent on them for things like staying in luxury hotels and HMO’s and Universal Credit/Aspen card payment, Mobile Phones, and other NHS services.

As councils prepare their budgets for 2026-27, campaigners have warned that social care for migrants is “yet another ticking time bomb” in town hall budgets Spending by local councils on migrants is made up of three elements: adult asylum seeker support, children’s social care (meaning children who are with their families) and children looked after (meaning unaccompanied children).

Social care for asylum seekers is separate to Home Office asylum support like hotels, dispersal housing, meals, and subsistence payments. It can include practical support like interpretation and language services, and help accessing health, housing, education and legal services. Where asylum-seeking children are taken into care, it also includes the cost of accommodation and care placements.

Among the other councils with the highest spending were Kent, Hampshire, Surrey and Bristol.

Anne Strickland, researcher of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said:

“The escalating costs of providing social care for asylum seekers represents yet another ticking time bomb in town hall budgets, with local residents suffering the consequences.

“Taxpayers have watched on with dismay at the failure of successive governments to get a grip on this issue, knowing that they will inevitably end up picking up the tab.

“With councils essentially helpless in the face of this ongoing crisis, it’s imperative that Whitehall urgently finds a way to stop the migration crisis.”