Suggest you check this formal response from the Department of Work & Pensions - these claims are formally rejected by the DWP, but as we know some have found a way to seriously milk the system by living in million dollar houses paid by the taxpayer
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/foi-2049-2011.pdf
They say...'I should first clarify that illegal immigrants are by definition unable to claim or
qualify for any benefits whatsoever as they are usually living in the UK
unknown to the relevant authorities.
There is no standard benefit that asylum seekers can receive in the way
suggested by the information you have received. Since 3 April 2000, asylum
seekers who require assistance are offered support by way of a cash
allowance for living expenses and in some cases, accommodation. This scheme is administered by the Home Office’s Asylum Support Service. The weekly asylum support rates from April 2011 are £36.62 for a single person and £72.52 for a couple over age 18.
The United Kingdom is a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. As a consequence we must fully honour our obligation to consider all applications for asylum made in this country or at our ports. In order to qualify for asylum a person must be outside his or her country of nationality and have a well founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.
In the event of an asylum seeker being granted refugee status, they are subject to the same rules of entitlement to benefit, and rates of benefit, as United Kingdom citizens'
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