Universal Credit

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) publish monthly Universal Credit statistics by local authority boundary. The chief statistician for the DWP designated these as official statistics from August 2023. The data can be sourced from the DWP's Stat-Xplore online data selection tool. The bulk of the transition to Universal Credit is estimated to be completed by 2024/25 with the migration of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) cases estimated to continue until 2028/29. See GOV.UK web page.

Please note that the 16-64 working age population estimates have been updated with the rebased mid-year population estimates from 2015 to 2021 in this analysis. These rebased population estimates now align with the results from the 2021 Census.  The proportions, which use the 16-64 population estimates as denominators, may be different to the proportions previously reported on this web page. The proportions were updated as from the analysis of the March 2024 Universal Credit data (revised) published on this web page on 24 May 2024. 

Click here for our Universal Credit Microsoft Power BI report (data and time series graphs)

Please see the bottom of the web page for notes on 16-64 denominators, January 2016 to December 2018 revisions, Universal Credit full service rollout notes and excel data file. 

Summary for April 2024, revised (final) data

April 2024 Universal Credit numbers and proportions

In April 2024, the proportion of persons aged 16-64 on Universal Credit (UC) was 17.7% in the Lancashire-12 area, 19.6% in the Lancashire-14 area and 18.9% in the North West region. These were all higher than the Great Britain proportion of 16.3%.

Blackpool (28.3%) had the highest UC total proportion in GB (out of 350 local authorities). Burnley (26.9%) had the third highest proportion and Blackburn with Darwen (26.5%) the sixth highest in GB. Hyndburn (25.2%) and Pendle (24.9%) were also ranked in the top 4% of the GB rankings, placed in the 10th and 13th highest positions, respectively.  The proportions for Preston (20.5%) and Rossendale (17.8%) were also above the GB proportion (16.3%). In contrast, Ribble Valley (8.8%) had the joint fourteenth lowest UC proportion in Great Britain, and the lowest proportion in the L-14 area and the North West region.

Please note that the number of local authorities in Great Britain has fallen from 363 to 350, owing to local government boundary changes in Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Somerset. In Cumbria, the former local authority areas of Allerdale, Carlisle and Copeland now form the Cumberland unitary authority area.  The former local authority areas of Barrow-in-Furness, Eden and South Lakeland now form the Westmoorland and Furness unitary authority area.

Blackburn with Darwen (25,709 people) and Blackpool (24,646 people) had the largest and second largest UC totals in the Lancashire-14 area in April 2024.

Preston had the largest total number of persons on Universal Credit (19,765) within the Lancashire-12 area in April 2024, followed by Burnley (15,697), Lancaster (14,478), Pendle (14,440) and Hyndburn (12,744). Ribble Valley (3,237) had the lowest number of persons on Universal Credit in the area.

Renewed trend of increasing Universal Credit numbers from early 2022

The number of people on Universal Credit has generally been on the increase once again since early 2022. The pace of increase appears to have risen during the second half of 2023. Some Lancashire-14 areas started to increase at a faster rate in the summer of 2023 and others towards the end of 2023. Much of the increase to the total number of people on Universal Credit since early 2022 has been driven by those in the 'Not in employment' UC category. However, since the summer/autumn period of 2023, it is noticeable that the number of people within the 'In employment' UC category have also been rising at an accelerated pace.

The percentage increase in the number of people on Universal Credit has risen at a greater pace in the Lancashire-12 and Lancashire-14 areas than in GB over the last year. Over the last month, the percentage increase in UC numbers was marginally greater in the Lancashire-14 area than in GB. The Lancashire-12 percentage increase was the same as the UK percentage rise over the month.  

For the 'Not in employment' UC category, the percentage increase in the number of people in this category has risen at a greater pace in the Lancashire-12 and Lancashire-14 areas than in GB over both the last year, and the last month.

For the 'In employment' UC category, over the last year, the percentage increase in the number of people within this category has risen at a greater pace in both the Lancashire-12 and Lancashire-14 areas than in GB. However, over the last month, the percentage increases for the number of people within the 'In employment' UC category was lower in both the Lancashire-12 and Lancashire-14 areas than for GB as a whole.

Lancashire-12 summary

Total number of people on Universal Credit

In April 2024, the total number of people on Universal Credit (UC) in the Lancashire-12 area (L-12) was 133,679 persons or 17.7% of persons aged 16-64 (GB = 16.3%).

L-12 numbers rose by 1,533 persons or 1.2% between March 2024 and April 2024. The GB rise was also 1.2%. The L-12 total proportion rose by 0.2 percentage points over the month. The GB proportion also rose by 0.2 percentage points. 

The L-12 UC total rose by 21,163 persons or 18.8% over the year (GB increase was 13.2%) and the L-12 proportion increased by 2.8 percentage points. The GB proportion rose by a lower 1.9 percentage points over the year.

People within the Universal Credit 'Not in employment' sub-category

The L-12 'Not in employment' UC category figure was 81,928 persons in April 2024, or 10.8% of persons aged 16-64 (GB = 10.1%). This category accounted for 61.3% of the L-12 UC total.

The number of people within the 'Not in employment' UC category increased by 1,219 persons or 1.5% over the month (GB rise = 0.9%) and increased by 13,115 persons or 19.1% over the year (GB rise = 13.7%).

The L-12 'Not in employment' proportion increased by 0.1 percentage point over the month and by 1.7 percentage points over the year.  The GB proportion also rose by 0.1 percentage point over the month but by a lower 1.2 percentage points over the year.

People within the Universal Credit 'In employment' sub-category

The L-12 'In employment' UC category sub-total was 51,763 persons in April 2024, or 6.8% of persons aged 16-64 (GB = 6.2%).  This category accounted for 38.7% of the L-12 UC total.

The number of people within the L-12 'In employment' UC category increased by 315 persons or 0.7% over the month (GB rise = 1.6%) and increased by 8,046 persons or 18.4% over the year (GB rise = 12.4%).

The L-12 'In employment' proportion was unchanged over the month but was 1.0 percentage point higher in April 2024 than it was in April 2023.  The GB proportion rose by 0.1 percentage point over the month and increased by a lower 0.7 percentage points over the year. 

Lancashire-14 summary 

Total number of people on Universal Credit

For the Lancashire-14 area (L-14), the Universal Credit total was 184,034 persons or 19.6% of persons aged 16-64 in April 2024 (GB = 16.3%).

The L-14 total numbers increased by 2,279 people (1.3%) over the month (GB rise = 1.2%). The L-14 UC total proportion rose by 0.2 percentage points over the month (the GB proportion also rose by 0.2 percentage points).

The L-14 UC total rose by 28,737 persons or 18.5% over the year (GB increase = 13.2%) and the L-14 proportion increased by 2.8 percentage points. The GB proportion rose by a lower 1.9 percentage points over the year. 

People within the Universal Credit 'Not in employment' sub-category

The L-14 'Not in employment' UC category figure was 114,301 persons in April 2024, or 12.2% of persons aged 16-64 (GB = 10.1%). This category accounted for 62.1% of the L-14 UC total.

The number of people within the L-14 'Not in employment' UC category increased by 1,654 persons or 1.5% over the month (GB rise = 0.9 %) and increased by 17,897 persons or 18.6% over the year (GB rise = 13.7%).

The L-14 'Not in employment' proportion increased by 0.2 percentage points over the month and by 1.9 percentage points over the year. The GB proportion rose by a lower 0.1 percentage points over the month and by a lower 1.2 percentage points over the year. 

People within the Universal Credit 'In employment' sub-category

The L-14 'In employment' UC category sub-total was 69,752 persons in April 2024, or 7.4% of persons aged 16-64 (GB = 6.2%).  This category accounted for 37.9% of the L-14 UC total.

The number of people within the L-14 'In employment' UC category increased by 678 persons or 1.0% over the month (GB rise = 1.6%). The L-14 'In employment' UC category was 10,849 persons (18.4%) higher in April 2024 than it was in April 2023 (GB rise = 12.4%).

The L-14 'In employment' proportion increased by 0.1 percentage point over the month and was 1.1 percentage points greater in April 2024 than it was in April 2023. The GB proportion also rose by 0.1 percentage point over the month but by a lower 0.7 percentage points over the year. 

Great Britain summary

Total number of people on Universal Credit

In Great Britain, there was a total of 6,673,786 people on Universal Credit (16.3%) in April 2024. GB numbers rose by 78,289 persons (1.2%) over the month and by 780,400 persons (13.2%) over the year. The GB proportion rose by 0.2 percentage points over the month and by 1.9 percentage points over the year.

People within the Universal Credit 'Not in employment' sub-category

The GB 'Not in employment' UC category figure was 4,142,220 persons in April 2024, or 10.1% of persons aged 16-64. This category accounted for 62.1% of the UC total.

The number of people within the GB 'Not in employment' UC category rose by 38,369 persons or 0.9% over the month and increased by 500,210 persons or 13.7% over the year. The GB 'Not in employment' proportion increased by 0.1 percentage point over the month and by 1.2 percentage points over the year.

People within the Universal Credit 'In employment' sub-category

The GB 'In employment' UC category sub-total was 2,531,563 persons in April 2024, or 6.2% of persons aged 16-64.  This category accounted for 37.9% of the UC total.

The number of people within the GB 'In employment' UC category increased by 39,915 persons or 1.6% over the month. The GB 'In employment' UC category was 280,184 persons (12.4%) higher in April 2024 than it was in April 2023.

The GB 'In employment' proportion increased by 0.1 percentage point over the month and was 0.7 percentage points greater in April 2024 than it was in April 2023.

Table 1: Total number of persons on Universal Credit and rates (% of persons aged 16 to 64), April 2024 (revised), plus monthly and yearly changes - and changes from March 2020.  

Table 2: 'Not in employment' Universal Credit figures.  Table 3: 'In employment' Universal Credit figures.

Graph 1: People on Universal Credit, numbers for Lancashire-14 authorities - time series

Graph 2: People on Universal Credit, numbers for Great Britain, England and the North West region - time series

Graph 3: People on Universal Credit, rates (16-64 population) - time series

Note: Working age proportions produced by Business Intelligence, Lancashire County Council, using 2015 to 2020 rebased mid-year population estimates and 2021 mid-year population estimates. Mid-year population estimates for 2021 have been used from January 2021 onwards. Claimant numbers for the Lancashire-12 and Lancashire-14 areas have been calculated by summing the relevant local authority figures.

Source: People on Universal Credit via DWP via Stat-Xplore, and Nomisweb (Population estimates / Projections) datasets for rebased 2015 to 2021 mid-year population estimates.

How to use the interactive table and graph functionality within the above dashboard.

Click on the column headings within the table to rank the data in that column. Click on the ID column heading to reset the table. Scroll across for more columns. Scroll up and down if required. Click on the diagonal double-ended arrow at the bottom right of the Power BI dashboard to enter full screen mode. Click the arrows next to the '1 to 6' label at the bottom of the dashboard to move through tables 1, 2 and 3, and graphs 1, 2 and 3. For the three time series graphs, select the geography required, then the variable(s) required (In employment/Not in employment/Total).

Summary continued

Monthly change in Universal Credit numbers and proportions

Between March 2024 and April 2024, increases to the Universal Credit (UC) totals were recorded in the Lancashire-12 area, the Lancashire-14 area, the North West region and Great Britain.

Composition of monthly change by Universal Credit sub-category 

The March 2024 to April 2024 rise to the total UC numbers in the Lancashire-12 area (up 1,533 people), occurred because both the 'Not in employment' and the 'In employment' UC categories increased. The rise to the 'Not in employment' UC category (up 1,219 people, 1.5%) was greater than the increase to the 'In employment' UC category (up 351 people, 0.7%) in the L-12 area. Please note that the total may not sum owing to individual rounding at the UC sub-category level.

The increase within the Lancashire-14 area was also the result of both the 'Not In employment' and the 'In employment' UC categories increasing over the month. The UC 'Not In employment' category rise (up 1,654 people, 1.5%) was greater than the increase in the 'In employment' UC category (up 678 people, 1.0%) over the month. Please note that the total may not sum owing to individual rounding at the UC sub-category level.

In Great Britain, the monthly increase in the UC total (up by 78,289, 1.2%) again happened because both the UC sub-categories increased. The 'Not in employment' UC category rise (up 38,369 people, 0.9%) was lower than the increase to the 'In employment' UC category (up 39,915 people, 1.6%). Please note that the total may not sum owing to individual rounding at the UC sub-category level.

All of the individual local authority areas within the Lancashire-14 area recorded increases to the total number of people on Universal Credit over the month.

Of the 14 monthly increases to the totals, the L-12 and L-14 pattern of changes (ie the increase to the 'Not in employment' UC category being greater than the increases to the 'In employment' UC category) was evident in five of the L-14 areas.  Five of the Lancashire-14 areas followed the GB pattern of changes (ie the increase to the 'Not in employment' UC category were lower than the increases to the 'In employment' UC category).

Hyndburn and Rossendale recorded increases to their 'Not in employment' UC category that were greater than the decreases to their 'In employment' UC category, resulting in an overall increase for these areas.

Chorley recorded no change to the 'Not in employment' UC category but an increase to the 'In employment' UC category, resulting in an overall monthly increase for the area.

Blackpool was the only Lancashire-14 area to see a fall to the 'Not in employment' UC category (-34 persons, -0.2%). The Blackpool 'In employment' UC category rose by 195 people (2.3%), resulting in an overall increase (156 people, 0.6%).

Monthly percentage change in total Universal Credit numbers

Between March 2024 and April 2024, the total number of people on Universal Credit increased by 1.2% in the Lancashire-12 area, the North West region and Great Britain. These increases were marginally lower than the Lancashire-14 rise (1.3%).

All of the Lancashire-14 local authority areas saw increases to the total number of people on Universal Credit over the month, ranging rises of 2.9% in Pendle and 2.3% in Blackburn with Darwen down to increases of 0.4% in each of South Ribble, Chorley and Lancaster.

Monthly change in total Universal Credit numbers

Blackburn with Darwen (up 590 people, 2.3%) saw the largest increase in total numbers over the month, followed by Pendle (up 406 people, 2.9%), Burnley (up 257 people, 1.7%), Preston (up 239 people, 1.2%) and Hyndburn (up 166 people, 1.3%).

Monthly change in total Universal Credit proportions

The total UC proportion rose by 0.2 percentage points over the month in the Lancashire-12 area, the North West region and GB but by 0.3 percentage points in the Lancashire-14 area.

Twelve of the Lancashire-14 areas saw monthly increases to their UC total proportions with five of these rising by more than the GB increase of 0.2 percentage points.  Lancaster and Chorley were the two Lancashire-14 areas that saw no change to their total UC proportions over the month

The proportions for Blackburn with Darwen and Pendle increased the greatest over the month within the area, each rising by 0.7 percentage points, followed by Burnley and Hyndburn where the proportions each rose by 0.4 percentage points.  The proportion for Preston rose by 0.3 percentage points over the month.   

Yearly change in Universal Credit numbers and proportions

Yearly percentage change in total Universal Credit numbers

Between April 2023 and April 2024, the total number of people on Universal Credit increased by 18.8% in the Lancashire-12 area, 18.5% in the Lancashire-14 area, 15.1% in the North West region and 13.2% in Great Britain.

All Lancashire-14 areas saw increases to their total Universal Credit numbers over the year.

Eleven of the Lancashire-14 areas saw yearly percentage increases to their totals that were greater than the GB rise of 13.2%.  Of these, Pendle (32.7%), Blackburn with Darwen (28.6%), Hyndburn (21.9%), Ribble Valley (21.6%) and Rossendale (20.7%) recorded the largest percentage increases over the year. West Lancashire (13.1%), Lancaster (10.8%) and Blackpool (8.2%) saw the lowest yearly percentage increases in the area.

Yearly change in total Universal Credit numbers

Blackburn with Darwen (up 5,714 people, 28.6%) saw the largest increase in total UC numbers over the year within the Lancashire-14 area, followed by Pendle (up 3,555 people, 32.7%), Preston (up 3,265 people, 19.8%), Burnley (up 2,456 people, 18.5%) and Hyndburn (up 2,288 people, 21.9%). Ribble Valley (up 576 people, 21.6%) recorded the lowest yearly increases in total numbers in the area.

Yearly change in total Universal Credit proportions

The total UC proportion rose by 3.1 percentage points between April 2023 and April 2024 in the Lancashire-14 area, and by 2.8 percentage points in the Lancashire12 area. These increases were greater than the rise of 2.5 percentage points in the North West and the 1.9 percentage points rise in Great Britain.

All of the Lancashire-14 areas recorded increases to their total Universal Credit proportions over the year with 10 of these rising by more than the GB increase of 1.9 percentage points. Pendle saw the largest yearly rise of 6.2 percentage points in the area, followed by Blackburn with Darwen (up 5.9 percentage points),  Hyndburn (up 4.5 percentage points),  Burnley (up 4.2 percentage points) and Preston (up 3.4 percentage points).  Lancaster recorded the smallest yearly increase to its proportion in the area of 1.5 percentage points.  

Composition of the yearly change by Universal Credit sub-category 

Between April 2023 and April 2024, the total number of people on Universal Credit has increased in Great Britain and the North West, both of the Lancashire-12 and Lancashire-14 areas, and all of the Lancashire-14 local authority areas.

The 'Not in employment' UC category accounts for roughly three-fifths of the UC total. 

Over the year, in Great Britain, the percentage increase in the 'Not in employment' UC category numbers (13.7%) was slightly greater than the percentage rise in the 'In employment' UC category (12.4%). The GB 'Not in employment' proportion rose by 1.2 percentage points over the year and the GB 'In employment' proportion rose by 0.7 percentage points.

Previously, between early 2022 and mid to late 2023, the difference in the yearly percentage change to the 'Not in employment' UC category numbers was much greater than the yearly percentage rise in the 'In employment' UC category. For example, between July 2022 and July 2023, the GB 'Not in employment UC category rose by 11.2% (proportion up 0.9 percentage points) and the 'In employment' category increased by just 0.9% (the proportion was unchanged). The scale of the difference in the increases for the two UC sub-categories was similar in the Lancashire-12 and Lancashire-14 areas between July 2022 and July 2023.

Between April 2023 and April 2024, however, the percentage increases to the number of people in the two UC sub-categories were much less extreme and more similar in extent. Over the year, the percentage increases to the 'Not in employment' UC category were slightly higher than the percentage rises to the 'In employment' UC category in GB, the North West, the Lancashire-12 and Lancashire-14 areas, and seven of the Lancashire-14 local authority areas.  Seven of the Lancashire-14 areas saw yearly percentage increases to the 'Not in employment' UC category that were lower than the percentage rises to the 'In employment' UC category.

Even when the percentage increases are higher for the 'In employment' UC category, the increase in actual numbers tends to be larger for the 'Not in employment' UC category as the 'Not in employment' UC category accounts for roughly 60% of the Universal Credit total. A percentage increase for the 'In employment' UC category would have to be substantially greater than the 'Not in employment' UC category percentage rise for the 'In employment' UC numbers to rise by more than the 'Not in employment' category numbers.

In the Lancashire-12 area, the yearly percentage increase for the 'Not in employment' UC category was 19.1% (up 13,115 people). This was slightly higher than the percentage increase for the 'In employment' UC category that rose by 18.4% (up 8,046 people).  The L-12 'Not in employment' UC category proportion rose by 1.7 percentage points over the year and the L-12 'In employment' UC category proportion rose by 1.0 percentage point.

For the Lancashire-14 area, the yearly percentage increase for the 'Not in employment' UC category was 18.6% (up 17,897 people). This was slightly higher than the percentage increase for the 'In employment' UC category that rose by 18.4% (up 10,849 people).  The L-14 'Not in employment' UC category proportion rose by 1.9 percentage points over the year and the L-14 'In employment' UC category proportion rose by 1.1 percentage points.

All of the Lancashire-14 areas recorded yearly increases to both the 'Not in employment' UC category and the 'In employment' UC category. 

In eleven of the Lancashire-14 areas, the yearly percentage increase in the 'Not in employment' UC category numbers was more than the GB rise of 13.7%, with five of these being above 20.0%. Pendle saw the largest yearly percentage increase (33.9%, up 2,342 people) for this category, followed by Blackburn with Darwen (25.1%, up 3,319 people), Ribble Valley (24.1%, up 332 people), Hyndburn (23.1%, up 1,525 people) and Burnley (20.5%, up 1,725 people). Blackpool saw the second lowest yearly percentage rise in the area (10.2%, up 1,463 people) and Lancaster the lowest yearly percentage rise (9.8%, up 781 people) for this sub-category.

Eight of the Lancashire-14 areas saw their 'Not in employment' UC proportions rise by more than the GB increase of 1.2 percentage points over the year. Pendle (up 4.0 percentage points) saw the greatest yearly increase to the 'Not in employment' proportion within the area, followed by Blackburn with Darwen (up 3.4 percentage points), Hyndburn (up 3.0 percentage points) and Burnley (up 3.0 percentage points).  Lancaster and Ribble Valley saw the lowest yearly rises to their 'Not in employment' proportions in the area, each increasing by 0.9 percentage points.

For the 'In employment' UC category, 12 of the Lancashire-14 areas recorded yearly percentage increases that were greater than the GB rise of 12.4%, with four of these being above 20.0%. Blackburn with Darwen (35.4%, up 2,403 people) had the greatest yearly percentage increase in the area, followed by Pendle (30.6%, up 1,216 people), Rossendale (23.4%, up 554 people) and Preston (20.8%, up 1,296 people). Blackpool (4.8%, up 400 persons) was the only Lancashire-14 area to see a yearly percentage increase that was below the GB rise (12.4%).  The yearly percentage increase in Lancaster was the same as GB (12.4%).

Nine of the Lancashire-14 areas saw their 'In employment' UC proportions rise by more than the GB increase of 0.7 percentage points over the year. Blackburn with Darwen (up 2.5 percentage points) saw the greatest yearly increase to the 'In employment' UC proportion within the area, followed by Pendle (up 2.1 percentage points), Hyndburn (up 1.5 percentage points), Rossendale (up 1.3 percentage points), Preston (up 1.3 percentage points)  and Burnley (up 1.3 percentage points). Blackpool saw the lowest rise to the 'In employment' proportion in the area over the year, increasing by 0.4 percentage points. 

For seven of the Lancashire-14 areas, the percentage increases to the 'Not in employment' UC category were higher than the percentage increases to the 'In employment' UC category. These seven areas were Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Ribble Valley, South Ribble, Wyre and Blackpool.  Although the percentage increases are higher for the 'In employment' UC category in the remaining seven areas, the increase in actual numbers are generally larger for the 'Not in employment' UC category. 

Further analysis

Initial Covid-19 lockdown change between March 2020 and May 2020

Owing to the initial lockdown on 23 March 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the UK economy subsequently experienced a sharp, deep recession. Recovery of the economy to its pre-pandemic level was achieved in Quarter 1 (January to March) of 2022. The economic downturn was reflected in a substantial rise in the number of people on Universal Credit between March 2020 and May 2020.

In the Lancashire-12 area, UC total numbers rose from 60,594 in March 2020 to 99,812 in May 2020 (+39,218 persons, +64.7%). The UC total proportion rose from 8.1% to 13.4% (up 5.3 percentage points).

In the Lancashire-14 area, numbers increased from 84,349 in March 2020 to 137,072 persons in May 2020 (+52,723 persons, +62.5%). The UC total proportion increased from 9.1% to 14.9% (up 5.8 percentage points).

In Great Britain, total numbers rose from 3,011,519 in March 2020 to 5,255,668 persons in May 2020 (+2,244,149 people, +74.5%). The UC total proportion rose from 7.4% to 12.9% (up 5.5 percentage points).   

'Not in employment' Universal Credit category: numbers, rates and change

For monthly and yearly changes in 'Not in employment' UC numbers and rates see the above dashboard for data and graphs

'In employment' Universal Credit category: numbers, rates and change

For monthly and yearly changes to 'In employment' UC numbers and rates see the above dashboard for data and graph

Notes on 16-64 denominators, January 2016 to December 2018 revisions and the Universal Credit full service rollout 

Notes on 16-64 denominators

The working age proportions for persons aged 16 to 64 years have been produced by Business Intelligence at Lancashire County Council, using 2015 to 2021 rebased mid-year population estimates.  The mid-year population estimates for 2021 have been used from January 2021 onwards. The number of people on Universal Credit for the Lancashire-12 and Lancashire-14 areas have been calculated by summing the relevant local authority area figures.

Important notice: data revised downwards from January 2016 to December 2018

The DWP has identified problems relating to individuals with multiple spells on Universal Credit (UC). Instead of showing multiple distinct periods of time when UC was claimed, individuals appear as if they had been on one long claim that started at the time of their original claim. In addition, owing to the input of incorrect dates, some individuals were recorded as being on UC for short periods before or after their genuine start and end dates.

The DWP has now resolved the above issues. As a result, the number of people on Universal Credit has been revised downwards from 8 January 2016 to 13 December 2018. The number removed increases over time, with 36,895 persons (2.4%) removed from the people on UC total at the GB level between the the provisional release of the December 2018 data (published in January 2019) and the revised release of the December 2018 data (published in February 2019). For the Lancashire-12 area, 1,292 persons (7.9%) were removed from the people on UC total over the same period, with downward revisions ranging from 7 people in Ribble Valley to 281 persons in Burnley, and 318 persons in Lancaster. Totals for previous months have also been corrected downwards. 

The issue was addressed in the 19th February 2019 Universal Credit Official Experimental Statistics publication. The DWP recommends that users do not use previously published Universal Credit Official Statistics for People on Universal Credit made between 8th January 2016 and 13th December 2018. Further details are contained the Statistical Notice published by the DWP on 19 February 2019.

Universal Credit full service provision rollout

Data

Page updated 12 June 2024