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Families of asylum seekers whose claims are rejected have been offered up to 10,000 pounds per person, capped at four per family, to voluntarily leave the UK if they accept the offer within one week.
The I Paper reports that Danish immigration experts said a similar offer in their country has been accepted by very few migrants – and even then, key differences in the UK scheme indicate that it will not work.
The pilot scheme, which could be expanded, is targeting about 150 families living in taxpayer-funded hostels.
The Home Office did not disclose how many people had accepted the offer.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the scheme was modelled on a similar initiative in Denmark and would save 20 million pounds if successful.
She said housing a family of three in asylum accommodation costs up to 158,000 pounds a year.
However, the Conservative and Reform UK have said the payments would incentivize people to come to the UK illegally to claim the money and return home.
The Government already runs a voluntary returns program under which failed asylum seekers who choose to leave the UK can receive up to 3,000 pounds in support – without the seven-day mandate.
Last year, 10,000 people used the assisted return route, which includes the reintegrated package of up to 3,000 pounds. About 80,000 people had eaqrlier had tjeir asylum claims rejected in 2025.
