It was revealed yesterday that migrants from Europe who refused the right to remain in the UK after Brexit were mistakenly paid benefits.
Because of a Home Office blunder, some of the 141,000 people denied EU Settlement Status received cash despite being ineligible.
It is claimed that after informing applicants of their rejection, officials did not update their visa database.
This meant that those applications were still considered “pending,” and EU citizens could apply for benefits.
A watchdog warned that some of the migrants had been overpaid for months. The Home Office will now attempt to recoup the funds.
The Independent Monitoring Authority, a body set to protect the rights of EU citizens, urged the Home Office to explain how “erroneous statuses” stayed in the department’s system for months and it expressed fears the EU Settlement Scheme was not fit for purpose.
But the Home Office said: “The online digital status for some EU Settlement Scheme applicants who were refused status has been updated in line with the decision taken on their application.
“These had already been communicated to the individuals concerned.”
“We are working across government and with the EU and member states to understand any further implications and to ensure the situation is managed quickly and pragmatically.”