Official Statistics

Universal Credit statistics, 29 April 2013 to 14 July 2022

Official experimental statistics for the number of claims, starts, people, and households on Universal Credit.

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Documents

Universal Credit data tables (on Stat-Xplore)

Details

The latest release of these statistics can be found in the collection of Universal Credit statistics.

These experimental statistics contain data for the total number of people:

  • who have submitted a claim for Universal Credit with a personal declaration to start up to 14 July 2022
  • who have made a claim and have attended an initial interview, accepted their claimant commitment, and gone on to start Universal Credit up to 14 July 2022
  • who are on Universal Credit on 14 July 2022

They also contain data for the total number of households on Universal Credit on 12 May 2022.

Read the background information and methodology note for guidance on these statistics, such as timeliness, uses, and procedures.

Additional statistics in the households on Universal Credit series

From this publication of Universal Credit statistics (released 16 August 2022) the household series has been expanded to include information on:

  • the ages of all children in Universal Credit households

The data for ages of all children is available on Stat-Xplore with accompanying metadata for users to understand the definitions and coverage of these variables.

These additions to Universal Credit statistics have been made as part of the Universal Credit statistics release strategy and in response to user needs. These additions conclude the children in households on Universal Credit measure.

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 The interactive maps have therefore been withdrawn and a replacement is currently under development.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 a new, 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 available 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.

Published 16 August 2022