[Christmas Dynasnow]

Benefits claims by households with at least one foreign national have doubled to nearly £1 billion a month in the past three years, government figures show.

Households with at least one claimant who is a foreign national received £941 million in March this year, up from £461 million in March 2022, representing nearly a sixth of the month’s Universal Credit payments.

The figures are likely to reinforce calls for restrictions on benefits for migrants, which Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, urged Rachel Reeves to consider in a leaked memo seen by The Telegraph.

Experts suggested the increase reflected a surge in the number of asylum seekers being granted refugee status and in net migration.

Foreign nationals become eligible for Universal Credit and other benefits on the same terms as British citizens once they are granted either indefinite leave to remain or refugee status.