Evidence that the system of social security benefits is one factor in attracting large numbers of foreign workers to the UK.

An in depth analysis of the operation of the current benefit system, by think tank Migrationwatch, has shown that the effect of benefit levels combined with means testing of benefits for those who are working means that there is little financial incentive for people with families living on benefits to find employment.

This may partly explain why, despite there being 3.5 million people on Jobseekers Allowance or Incapacity Benefit, most of the 1.6 million immigrants have come to work in the UK in the past ten years went onto benefits within months of arrival.

There would be considerable benefits in getting our own population into work rather than encouraging immigration.
    
It has been suspected for some time that benefit levels are a real disincentive for the Polish, not the work that is on offer.

Poles have very strong financial motivation. Those that do decide to work are earning 4-5 times what they would earn at home and, by living in multi-occupancy, they can afford to send considerable sums of money back to their families - according to the National Bank of Poland, Polish migrants in the UK are sending home about £9 million a day.

A family with two children and one working member receives £89.50 of Working Tax Credit, intended to cushion the impact of means testing of benefits and be an incentive to work.

All working families with children and one working member on the minimum wage are worse off than the same Polish family receiving the maximum Incapacity Benefit.

The maximum level of Incapacity Benefit has effectively been brought very close to the minimum wage, the Polish have spotted this. There are good reasons of social equity for this but it does mean that there is very little financial incentive for such persons to return to paid employment, especially as they are allowed some earnings. This means it is particularly important to ensure that claimants are genuine cases.