Why your view on migration might be the key to ending child poverty in the UK

DCM Editorial Summary: This story has been independently rewritten and summarised for DCM readers to highlight key developments relevant to the region. Original reporting by The Conversation, click this post to read the original article.

The UK government is set to release a ten-year strategy aimed at reducing child poverty by tackling its root causes. One of the key challenges is the situation faced by migrant families, especially those who are not permitted to access public benefits due to their immigration status. As a result, many turn to local authorities for assistance – a system which research shows is inconsistent, under-resourced, and often fails to meet the basic needs of children. Some families receive no help at all, fearing that interaction with authorities could harm their immigration cases or lead to separation from their children.

If you or your family are affected by the UK’s “no recourse to public funds” policy, you may already know how difficult it can be. Introduced in the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, this policy blocks access to welfare benefits for many temporary migrants, including students, workers, and families with British spouses. Despite many children in these households being British-born or long-term UK residents, you may find yourself unable to claim vital support such as Universal Credit or child benefits. This approach places thousands of children at high risk of poverty and social exclusion.

Local councils are trying to fill the gap through their own support systems, but there’s no uniform standard, and many of these systems aren’t designed to handle poverty – just to address extreme destitution. You could experience vastly different levels of help depending on where you live. Some areas offer only food vouchers or referrals to food banks, while others leave it to overburdened social workers to make tough decisions with minimal resources. With little official data available, the true number of families in need is likely much higher than reported.

The fear of asking for help is real. Many parents say they avoid approaching local services because they believe it might hurt their immigration status or risk losing their children. If you’re in this position, you may find the process overwhelming and degrading, as others have described. Without clearer national guidance or dedicated funding, councils can’t effectively support families like yours.

To truly fight child poverty, any long-term government strategy must address how immigration policies intersect with welfare access. Until that happens, the burden continues to fall on local authorities and families, and the risk to your children’s well-being remains high. What’s needed now is a strong, funded, and coordinated response with proper safeguards that ensure every child – regardless of their family’s immigration status – has access to the support they need.