Universal Credit statistics, 29 April 2013 to 9 November 2023
Statistics for the number of claims, starts, people and households on Universal Credit.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
Documents
Details
These official statistics contain data on:
- the number of people who made a claim or started on Universal Credit to October 2023
- the number of people who are on Universal Credit to November 2023
- the number of households who are on Universal Credit to August 2023
Read the background information and methodology note for guidance on these statistics, such as timeliness, uses, and procedures.
We have identified a data quality issue in the Universal Credit Households statistics. The issue affects Scottish Local Housing Allowance rates before June 2021. Work is urgently being carried out to restore accurate information. An update to affected statistics is expected on 19 December 2023.
Update: Accurate information for Scottish Local Housing Allowance rates before June 2021 will be available from 9 January 2024.
In the interim, users have been advised, via Stat-Xplore and the GOV.UK website, to treat affected data with caution.
Universal Credit claims and starts breakdowns by postcode are no longer available from April 2022 onwards, due to missing geography data. The missing information has been captured and action is being taken to reinstate these breakdowns in future releases. Updates will be provided via Stat-Xplore and the GOV.UK website.
Interactive tools
Software used for the interactive maps is no longer supported. These showed households on Universal Credit at the local authority level and people on Universal Credit at Jobcentre Plus level. The interactive maps have therefore been withdrawn and a replacement is currently under development. Once completed and launched, the interactive tool (called Examine-a-Stat) will have improved functionality, including interactive maps, to better meet a wider range of user needs. It will be available in due course and the statistics are currently accessible on Stat-Xplore.
Pre-release access
In addition to staff who are responsible for the production and quality assurance of the statistics, up to 24-hour pre-release access is provided to ministers and other officials. We publish the job titles and organisations of the people who have been granted up to 24-hour pre-release access to the latest Universal Credit statistics.
Updates to this page
Last updated 19 December 2023 + show all updates
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Added an update that accurate information for Scottish Local Housing Allowance rates before June 2021 will be available from 9 January 2024.
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First published.