Research and analysis

Effectiveness assessment including statistical analysis of the Universal Credit advances machine learning model: 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026

The assessment includes ad-hoc statistics on the impact of the Universal Credit (UC) advances machine learning model on groups with protected characteristics.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Published: 9 July 2026

Documents

Effectiveness Assessment of Universal Credit Advances Model

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Details

The purpose of this Effectiveness Assessment is to consider the results of the statistical analysis alongside other factors and review the extent to which any measured statistical disparity may represent risk of discrimination, unfair treatment or detrimental impact on claimants. Other factors taken into consideration in this Effectiveness Assessment include:

• the size and nature of Advances fraud
• the consideration of using machine learning as a control to mitigate the identified fraud risk
• the safeguards in place for the design, development and operation of the model
• the impact of the model on claimants, including the timeliness of Advances payments for requests referred by the model

Published 9 July 2026