Welfare participation: A comparison between immigrants and natives in the United Kingdom

European migration is a hotly debated topic in the United Kingdom. Using the Labour Force Survey data for 2012 and 2013 this study analyses benefit claims among Central and Eastern European immigrants, immigrants from the old European Union member states, and UK natives. Results of logistic regression modelling show that, compared to natives, social benefit claims are higher among immigrants from the eight Eastern European countries that became member states of the European Union in 2004. However, those immigrants have a smaller probability than natives to claim unemployment related benefit or income support, indicating that the decision to migrate is not likely related to potential benefit support.