The migrant poverty premium refers to the additional and often hidden costs that migrant households face when accessing essential goods and services. These costs can include higher housing expenses, limited access to affordable credit, higher energy bills, and barriers to secure employment. As a result, migrant households are often required to pay more to meet the same basic needs as others, increasing their risk of financial hardship.

This joint blog with Fair by Design looks at some of the additional costs migrant households face and how these lead to a migrant poverty premium. It presents evidence from our work on Financial Disadvantage in Migrant Households, funded by abrdn Financial Fairness Trust

Why this matters for policy

Addressing the migrant poverty premium requires more than short-term support. It calls for coordinated action across housing, employment, social security, and financial services. Collaboration between policy-makers, researchers, community organisations, and funders is essential.

This blog contributes to wider debates on poverty, inequality, and migration in the UK. It underlines the need for policies that reduce extra costs, improve access to services, and support fairer outcomes for migrant households.