Kent’s asylum seeker costs have exploded to a massive £41.6 million – the highest in the UK – tripling in just five years. New research from the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) exposes a shocking 319% rise since 2019-20, leaving local council coffers creaking under the strain.
Kent’s Asylum Bill Hits Sky-High £41.6 Million
Kent County Council’s social care costs for asylum seekers have rocketed to £41.6 million, dwarfing every other region in the country. That’s a staggering £31.7 million jump in just five years.
The surge is driven by growing support needs for adults and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC), who require costly care and accommodation.
Council leader Linden Kemkaran slammed the government’s “abysmal” border control. She blamed successive administrations for leaving Kent to bear the financial fallout.
Cllr Kemkaran urged Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to stump up extra cash, especially for vulnerable young adults aged 21-25. “They get zero government support despite Kent’s legal duty to care for them,” she said.
Unaccompanied Asylum Children Flooding In
Kent is legally forced to take in all unaccompanied asylum-seeking children arriving on its shores. These youngsters either get housed locally or dispersed to other councils under a national transfer scheme.
The number of UASC has quadrupled over the last decade, soaring to a whopping 16,000.
“When unaccompanied children rock up on our shores, we have to put them in our children’s care services and look after them… up to the age of 25,” said Cllr Kemkaran. “Our staff cope brilliantly… but successive governments have failed abysmally to secure our borders.”
With Channel crossings expected to surge as the weather warms, Kent braces for an even heavier burden – mostly men, but some children who become Kent’s responsibility from day one.
Who’s Paying? You Are!
The TPA’s latest report reveals that asylum seeker social care spending across UK councils has doubled since 2019-20, hitting £744 million in 2024-25.
Costs cover interpretation, healthcare, housing, education, legal aid, plus accommodation for children in care. Kent gets about £1,000 per week for under-18s and £270 weekly for 18-21-year-olds – but nothing beyond 21, creating a huge funding gap.
Kent Tops the Local Authority Bill Board
- Kent: £41.6 million
- Hampshire: £23.9 million
- Manchester: £23.2 million
- Surrey: £22.6 million
- Bristol: £19.2 million
- Essex: £15.2 million
TPA researcher Anne Strickland warned: “These soaring costs are a ticking time bomb in town hall budgets. Residents are paying the price while governments fail to get a grip.”
She added: “Councils are helpless. Urgent Whitehall action is essential to stop this migration crisis.”
Government Hits Back
The Home Office defended its position, saying: “Local authorities have a statutory duty to support unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and care leavers. We are committed to working closely with them.”
They added that extra funding is already provided to help with these support costs.
