The Polish government has encouraged its citizens currently residing in the United Kingdom to claim UK unemployment benefits before returning home, citing the financial advantages of the UK welfare system over Poland's equivalent support. This guidance was published on Powroty, a website aimed at Poles planning to repatriate.
Under the terms of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, European Union citizens who obtained settled status in the UK before December 2020 can claim certain benefits, including Jobseeker’s Allowance, for up to three months while residing in another EU country. According to the advice on Powroty, individuals are urged to apply for Jobseeker’s Allowance before leaving the UK since starting the claim process from Poland is not possible. The site also provides detailed instructions on how to maintain these benefits after returning to Poland.
Helen Whately, the Conservative Party’s work and pensions spokesman, criticized the policy, stating that the UK’s benefits system has become vulnerable to exploitation, highlighting that when foreign governments actively advise their citizens on exploiting UK benefits, it exposes systemic weaknesses. She described the UK’s approach to welfare as “soft-touch” and expressed concern about the impact on British taxpayers.
Poland's current economic growth and improved living conditions have prompted many of its citizens to return from Britain. A spokesman for the Polish government pointed to Poland’s strong and sustained economic growth over the past 28 years, competitive job opportunities, the appeal of reuniting with family and friends, and enhanced public safety as significant factors in this migration trend. This shift coincides with a reversal in migration patterns: while the Polish population in Britain increased from approximately 94,000 in 2004 to nearly one million in 2016, recent years have seen a decline in Polish immigration to the UK, concurrent with an increase in Britons moving to Poland, attracted by its lower cost of living and robust economy.
Poland’s economy is projected to grow by 3.5% this year, outpacing the UK’s estimated growth of 1.3%. Between 2015 and 2024, the number of Britons relocating to Poland rose by 340%. In 2023, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk anticipated that Poles would surpass the British in wealth by 2030, attributing this advantage to Poland’s continued membership in the European Union.
A UK government spokesman emphasized that the Withdrawal Agreement is a reciprocal arrangement designed to protect rights rather than facilitate extensive claims on UK resources. Official figures indicate that only about ten individuals currently claim Jobseeker’s Allowance outside the UK. Eligibility is limited to those with pre-2020 settled status who have met National Insurance and other criteria, and benefit payments are capped at three months.
The Polish government also stressed that decisions to return are based on factors beyond accessing UK benefits, including the broader advantages offered by Poland’s growing economy and quality of life. They reiterated that the ability to receive Jobseeker’s Allowance under the Withdrawal Agreement applies only to eligible EU citizens who have lawfully contributed to social insurance during their UK employment.