EU seeks answers as 141,000 lose rights in Britain

Benefit payments

The agency told the FT: "Potentially, 141,000 people continued to enjoy rights to which they were not entitled, including receiving benefit payments."

It said it was looking into whether the online EU Settlement Scheme, through which they made their applications, was "fit for purpose, maintained, and audited".

The Home Office confirmed: "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, which had already been communicated to the individuals concerned."

The government department said it would work with the EU "to ensure the situation is managed quickly and pragmatically" and the EU said it would ensure "the protection of the rights and the wellbeing of EU citizens in the UK".

The Associated Press said the situation may have been caused by an error at the UK's Department of Work and Pensions, which meant the status of rejected applications was not updated in a timely manner.