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Benefits data

Entitlements, take-up and claimant data across UK benefits.

Key statistics

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8.3 million

8.3 million people were on Universal Credit

8.3 million people were on Universal Credit in Great Britain in February 2026.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit statistics, 29 April 2013 to 12 February 2026

Period: February 2026

Last checked: 12 August 2026

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830,000

Universal Credit caseload increased by 830,000 in a year

The number of people on Universal Credit increased by 830,000 between February 2025 and February 2026.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit statistics, 29 April 2013 to 12 February 2026

Period: February 2025 to February 2026

Last checked: 12 August 2026

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7.2 million

7.2 million households were on Universal Credit

7.2 million households in Great Britain were on Universal Credit in February 2026.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit statistics, 29 April 2013 to 12 February 2026

Period: February 2026

Last checked: 12 August 2026

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6.7 million

6.7 million UC households were due a payment

6.7 million households, equivalent to 93% of Universal Credit households, had a payment indicator.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit statistics, 29 April 2013 to 12 February 2026

Period: February 2026

Last checked: 12 August 2026

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44%

44% of Universal Credit households receiving payment had children

44% of Universal Credit households receiving a payment had children.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit statistics, 29 April 2013 to 12 February 2026

Period: February 2026

Last checked: 12 August 2026

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3.1 million

More than three million Universal Credit recipients were in employment

3.1 million people on Universal Credit were in employment in January 2026.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit statistics, 29 April 2013 to 12 February 2026

Period: January 2026

Last checked: 12 August 2026

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37.8%

37.8% of people on Universal Credit were working

37.8% of people on Universal Credit were in work in January 2026.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit statistics, 29 April 2013 to 12 February 2026

Period: January 2026

Last checked: 12 August 2026

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50%

Half of Universal Credit recipients had no work requirements

Around 50% of Universal Credit recipients were in the no-work-requirements conditionality regime.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit statistics, 29 April 2013 to 12 February 2026

Period: February 2026

Last checked: 12 August 2026

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57%

Women represented 57% of Universal Credit recipients

57% of people on Universal Credit were women.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit statistics, 29 April 2013 to 12 February 2026

Period: February 2026

Last checked: 12 August 2026

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13.2 million

13.2 million people were receiving State Pension

The State Pension caseload was 13.2 million, up 1.9% year on year.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — DWP benefit statistics: February 2026

Period: August 2025

Last checked: 12 August 2026

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1.4 million recipients

1.4 million people were receiving Pension Credit

1.4 million people received Pension Credit, with 1.6 million beneficiaries including partners.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — DWP benefit statistics: February 2026

Period: August 2025

Last checked: 12 August 2026

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1.5 million claims

Housing Benefit caseload had fallen to 1.5 million claims

There were 1.5 million Housing Benefit claims, down 25.6% year on year.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — DWP benefit statistics: February 2026

Period: November 2025

Last checked: 12 August 2026

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4.0 million

Four million people had entitlement to PIP

4.0 million people in England and Wales had entitlement to Personal Independence Payment.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Personal Independence Payment official statistics to April 2026

Period: 30 April 2026

Last checked: 12 August 2026

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83%

Most PIP recipients were of working age

83% of PIP recipients — approximately 3.3 million people — were of working age.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Personal Independence Payment official statistics to April 2026

Period: April 2026

Last checked: 12 August 2026

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37%

More than a third of PIP recipients received the highest award level

37% of PIP claims with entitlement received enhanced rates of both Daily Living and Mobility.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Personal Independence Payment official statistics to April 2026

Period: April 2026

Last checked: 12 August 2026

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250,000

250,000 new PIP claims were registered in one quarter

250,000 new PIP claims were registered in the quarter ending April 2026.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Personal Independence Payment official statistics to April 2026

Period: Quarter ending April 2026

Last checked: 12 August 2026

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39%

Psychiatric disorders were the most common recorded PIP disabling-condition category

Psychiatric disorders represented 39% of normal-rules PIP claims.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Personal Independence Payment official statistics to April 2026

Period: April 2026

Last checked: 12 August 2026

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5.5 million

5.5 million people were on Universal Credit in March 2022

5.5 million people were on Universal Credit in Great Britain in March 2022.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit statistics, 29 April 2013 to 12 February 2026

Period: March 2022

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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3.3 million

3.3 million PIP recipients were of working age

3.3 million of the 4.0 million people with PIP entitlement in England and Wales were of working age.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Personal Independence Payment official statistics to April 2026

Period: 30 April 2026

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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680,000

680,000 PIP recipients were of State Pension age

680,000 of the 4.0 million people with PIP entitlement in England and Wales were of State Pension age.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Personal Independence Payment official statistics to April 2026

Period: 30 April 2026

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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17%

17% of PIP recipients were of State Pension age

17% of PIP recipients in England and Wales were of State Pension age.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Personal Independence Payment official statistics to April 2026

Period: April 2026

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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2%

PIP caseload rose 2% in the quarter to April 2026

The PIP caseload in England and Wales increased by 2% between January 2026 and April 2026.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Personal Independence Payment official statistics to April 2026

Period: Change from January 2026 to April 2026

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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211,125

211,125 Pension Credit applications were made

211,125 Pension Credit applications were made in Great Britain between 31 March 2025 and 29 March 2026.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Pension Credit applications and awards, May 2026

Period: 31 March 2025 to 29 March 2026

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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224,685

224,685 Pension Credit claims were cleared

224,685 Pension Credit claims were cleared in Great Britain between 31 March 2025 and 29 March 2026.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Pension Credit applications and awards, May 2026

Period: 31 March 2025 to 29 March 2026

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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138,165

138,165 Pension Credit claims were awarded

138,165 Pension Credit claims were awarded in Great Britain between 31 March 2025 and 29 March 2026.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Pension Credit applications and awards, May 2026

Period: 31 March 2025 to 29 March 2026

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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86,520

86,520 Pension Credit claims were not awarded

86,520 Pension Credit claims were not awarded in Great Britain between 31 March 2025 and 29 March 2026.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Pension Credit applications and awards, May 2026

Period: 31 March 2025 to 29 March 2026

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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12,770

12,770 Pension Credit claims were outstanding

12,770 Pension Credit claims were outstanding in the week commencing 23 March 2026.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Pension Credit applications and awards, May 2026

Period: Week commencing 23 March 2026

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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321,035

321,035 Pension Credit applications were made in the prior year

321,035 Pension Credit applications were made in Great Britain in the comparator year published alongside the 2025/26 figures.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Pension Credit applications and awards, May 2026

Period: Prior year (comparator to 30 March 2025)

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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340,565

340,565 Pension Credit claims were cleared in the prior year

340,565 Pension Credit claims were cleared in Great Britain in the comparator year published alongside the 2025/26 figures.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Pension Credit applications and awards, May 2026

Period: Prior year (comparator to 30 March 2025)

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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180,970

180,970 Pension Credit claims were awarded in the prior year

180,970 Pension Credit claims were awarded in Great Britain in the comparator year published alongside the 2025/26 figures.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Pension Credit applications and awards, May 2026

Period: Prior year (comparator to 30 March 2025)

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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159,595

159,595 Pension Credit claims were not awarded in the prior year

159,595 Pension Credit claims were not awarded in Great Britain in the comparator year published alongside the 2025/26 figures.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Pension Credit applications and awards, May 2026

Period: Prior year (comparator to 30 March 2025)

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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-34%

Pension Credit applications fell 34% year on year

Pension Credit applications in Great Britain fell by 34% compared with the prior year.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Pension Credit applications and awards, May 2026

Period: Year to 29 March 2026 vs prior year

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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-34%

Pension Credit claims cleared fell 34% year on year

The number of Pension Credit claims cleared in Great Britain fell by 34% compared with the prior year.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Pension Credit applications and awards, May 2026

Period: Year to 29 March 2026 vs prior year

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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-24%

Pension Credit awards fell 24% year on year

The number of Pension Credit claims awarded in Great Britain fell by 24% compared with the prior year.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Pension Credit applications and awards, May 2026

Period: Year to 29 March 2026 vs prior year

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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-46%

Pension Credit claims not awarded fell 46% year on year

The number of Pension Credit claims not awarded in Great Britain fell by 46% compared with the prior year.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Pension Credit applications and awards, May 2026

Period: Year to 29 March 2026 vs prior year

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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5.6 million

5.6 million people were on Universal Credit in 13 January 2022

5.6 million people were on Universal Credit in Great Britain in 13 January 2022, as published by DWP.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit official statistics

Period: 13 January 2022

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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5.8 million

5.8 million people were on Universal Credit in October 2022

5.8 million people were on Universal Credit in Great Britain in October 2022, as published by DWP.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit official statistics

Period: October 2022

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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5.9 million

5.9 million people were on Universal Credit in April 2023

5.9 million people were on Universal Credit in Great Britain in April 2023, as published by DWP.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit official statistics

Period: April 2023

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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6.2 million

6.2 million people were on Universal Credit in October 2023

6.2 million people were on Universal Credit in Great Britain in October 2023, as published by DWP.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit official statistics

Period: October 2023

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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6.4 million

6.4 million people were on Universal Credit in January 2024

6.4 million people were on Universal Credit in Great Britain in January 2024, as published by DWP.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit official statistics

Period: January 2024

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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7.0 million

7.0 million people were on Universal Credit in July 2024

7.0 million people were on Universal Credit in Great Britain in July 2024, as published by DWP.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit official statistics

Period: July 2024

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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7.2 million

7.2 million people were on Universal Credit in October 2024

7.2 million people were on Universal Credit in Great Britain in October 2024, as published by DWP.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit official statistics

Period: October 2024

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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7.5 million

7.5 million people were on Universal Credit in January 2025

7.5 million people were on Universal Credit in Great Britain in January 2025, as published by DWP.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit official statistics

Period: January 2025

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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7.9 million

7.9 million people were on Universal Credit in June 2025

7.9 million people were on Universal Credit in Great Britain in June 2025, as published by DWP.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit official statistics

Period: June 2025

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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8.3 million

8.3 million people were on Universal Credit in December 2025

8.3 million people were on Universal Credit in Great Britain in December 2025, as published by DWP.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit official statistics

Period: December 2025

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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8.4 million

8.4 million people were on Universal Credit in January 2026

8.4 million people were on Universal Credit in Great Britain in January 2026, as published by DWP.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit official statistics

Period: January 2026

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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See all 50 UK household finance statistics for 2026 →

Charts

Universal Credit in 2026: caseload snapshot

Universal Credit measures in Great Britain. People and households are different units of measurement and are shown separately — the four figures are not parts of one total.

Great Britain · February 2026 (employment measure: January 2026) · Source data: Department for Work and Pensions

PIP in 2026: claimant snapshot

Personal Independence Payment in England and Wales. Claimant counts and award share are different measures and are presented separately.

England and Wales · April 2026 · Source data: Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit caseload: selected official snapshots, 2022 to 2026

Selected DWP headline caseload observations showing the rise in people on Universal Credit in Great Britain from 2022 through early 2026.

Great Britain · January 2022 to February 2026 · Source data: Department for Work and Pensions

Related data from other topics

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166,000

166,000 households received the Universal Credit childcare element

166,000 households in Great Britain received the Universal Credit childcare element in February 2026.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions — Universal Credit childcare element statistics to February 2026

Period: February 2026

Last checked: 13 August 2026

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Datasets

UK Household Finance Statistics 2026

Fifty verified official statistics on cost of living, inflation, incomes and savings, Universal Credit, disability support, rent, energy debt and consumer credit. Each record carries its original source, reference period and last-checked date.

uk · 2026 reference periods (see each record) · Updated 12 August 2026

Source: Office for National Statistics, Department for Work and Pensions, Ofgem and Bank of England — Official UK statistical releases, compiled by SupportFund

Period: 2026 reference periods (see each record)

Last checked: 12 August 2026

Cite this data

SupportFund, UK Household Finance Statistics 2026, accessed 6 September 2026. https://supportfund.co.uk/media/data/benefits

Research using this data

Other research topics

Cost of LivingEnergyHousehold BillsHousingDebtGrants & Emergency Support

0 charts published across all topics.