Number of EU migrants claiming UK benefits is DOUBLE that of Brits claiming welfare abroad
THE amount of jobless EU migrants claiming benefits in the UK is more than DOUBLE the number of out-of-work Britons living abroad, new research has revealed.
Figures show around 65,000 EU nationals claim Jobseeker's Allowance in the UK, compared to just under 30,000 British nationals claiming out-of-work benefits in other EU countries.
Of the thousands claiming welfare handouts in Britain, almost 23 per cent are Polish nationals.
More than 14,800 Polish nationals live and claim Jobseeker's Allowance in the UK today – outnumbering their British counterparts by 7,440 to one.
By comparison, the research - conducted by The Guardian based on responses from 23 of the 28 EU member states - reveals only two Britons currently claim jobless benefits in Poland.
This report nails the myth that more Brits claim benefits in the EU than vice versa
Slovakia and Portugal are responsible for the second and third highest number of claimants – with 6,690 and 6,210 nationals from the two countries receiving out-of-work benefits in Britain respectively.
Meanwhile, only 238 British nationals claim unemployment welfare in either country.
In total, Government figures reveal there are 2.7million EU nationals in Britain with 1.3million UK citizens living elsewhere in the EU.
UKIP Migration spokesman Steven Woolfe said: "This report nails the myth that more Brits claim benefits in the EU than vice versa.
"UKIP has always said that our non-contributory system is an easy touch for EU citizens who are out of work and wish to claim in the UK.
"Unlike the UK, many EU states have a contributory benefits system so were are not comparing like with like.
"Just under 30,000 Brits claim out of works benefit in the EU but over one third of those are in Ireland, a country with a unique and long term, reciprocal relationship.
"Whereas 15,000 Polish claim benefits here in the UK, only two do so in Poland."
The research comes just days after the Prime Minister warned proposals to stamp-out 'benefit tourism' within the EU would affect unemployed Britons living in other European countries, as well as EU migrants living in the UK
As a result of David Cameron's proposals, those 29,095 jobless Britons claiming welfare abroad could move back to the UK to begin claiming welfare.
A Downing Street spokesman said: "The Prime Minister is seeking a number of changes to welfare rules linked to immigration.
"There would be reciprocal changes across the EU. He has been very clear it is the British people who will make the choice.”
The latest welfare findings come just weeks after it emerged that British taxpayers hand over £1million every week in child benefits - to fund 34,199 children living outside the UK.
Mr Cameron is hoping to renegotiate Britain's relationship with the EU ahead of a promised in/out membership referendum in 2017.
However, despite Britain's welfare bill for EU nationals being a key target for the Prime Minister's hopes of reform, other EU leaders have ruled out any measures that affect the principle of freedom of movement.
