UK Offers Up to £40,000 to Failed Asylum Families to Leave

The UK government has announced a new pilot scheme offering up to £40,000 to families whose asylum applications have been rejected if they agree to leave the country voluntarily.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the scheme will provide financial incentives of up to £10,000 per person, with a maximum of four people per family. Families will have seven days to accept the offer. If they refuse, the government may move forward with forced removal.

The programme will initially target around 150 families currently living in government-funded asylum accommodation. According to the Home Office, the scheme could save up to £20 million in taxpayer money if it proves successful.

Mahmood said the cost of housing asylum seekers is extremely high. She noted that accommodating a family of three can cost the government up to £158,000 per year. The increased incentive payment, she said, could significantly reduce these expenses while encouraging voluntary departures.

The UK already runs a voluntary return programme, where migrants who choose to leave can receive up to £3,000 in financial assistance. The new proposal would expand this support significantly.

The Home Secretary also announced stricter rules for asylum seekers. Under new measures expected to take effect in June, migrants who commit crimes or work illegally could lose their government-funded housing and financial support.

Mahmood argued that the government must restore control over the asylum system while keeping it compassionate. She also said authorities are consulting on ways to remove families with children who refuse to leave voluntarily in a humane and effective manner.

However, the plan has faced criticism from opposition parties and refugee organisations.

Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp called the payments “an insult to the British taxpayer”. Meanwhile, Reform UK said the proposal could reward illegal entry into the country.

A spokesperson for the party, Zia Yusuf, described the payments as “staggering” and said they could act as a prize for entering the UK illegally.

Refugee advocacy groups have also raised concerns. The Refugee and Migrant Children's Consortium warned that families would have only one week to make a major life decision without enough time to seek legal advice. The group also fears that cutting support could leave children homeless.

Meanwhile, the Refugee Council said the policy could increase homelessness and shift financial pressure onto local councils and the NHS.

According to official figures, about 82,100 asylum applications were filed in the UK in 2025, covering around 100,600 people. Nearly 58% of these applications were refused. During the same period, there were 28,004 voluntary returns, a 5% increase compared to the previous year.

The proposal is part of wider immigration reforms announced by the government, which also include making refugee status temporary and tightening rules on study visas from certain countries.

Mahmood defended the measures, saying stronger migration controls are necessary to maintain a fair and sustainable asylum system in the UK.