Overview
- The Department for Work and Pensions’ January 2026 data show 8.4 million people were claiming Universal Credit, up from about 7.4 million a year earlier.
- Around 1.7 million people moved from legacy benefits onto Universal Credit in December 2025, a single migration that materially lifted claimant totals.
- The mean household payment was £1,030 a month with single claimants without children receiving about £800 and couples with children receiving about £1,310.
- About 2.7 million claimants, or roughly 32 percent, were in work in December 2025, meaning Universal Credit often acts as a low‑income top‑up as well as unemployment support.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham has ruled out broad benefit cuts and the Government will set fiscal choices in the October Budget as analysts warn inflationary pressures linked to the Iran war will limit room for manoeuvre.