This loss of benefits has almost certainly precipitated the jump from the long-standing annual average of 300,000 citizenship applications to 1.6 million in 1996.
Loss of benefits and higher costs prompted more people to apply for citizenship in 1996. 
mnli hypothesis: Loss of benefits and higher costs prompted more people to apply for citizenship in 1996.  premise: This loss of benefits has almost certainly precipitated the jump from the long-standing annual average of 300,000 citizenship applications to 1.6 million in 1996.