Universal Credit
Summary
Universal Credit is a payment for people under state pension age and on a low income or out of work. It includes support for the cost of housing, children and childcare, and financial support for people with disabilities, carers and people too ill to work.
As from the analysis of the Universal Credit data for November 2024 (revised), the working age denominators have changed to those persons aged 16 to 65 (from 16 to 64).
Lancashire
In November 2024, the proportion of persons aged 16-65 on Universal Credit (UC) was 17.8% in the Lancashire-12 area, 19.8% in the Lancashire-14 area and 19.5% in the North West region. These were all higher than the Great Britain proportion of 17.1%.
Districts
Blackpool (28.8%) had the highest UC total proportion in GB (out of 350 local authorities). Blackburn with Darwen (26.8%) had the fifth highest proportion and Burnley (27.1%) the sixth highest in GB. Pendle (26.1%) and Hyndburn (25.3%) were ranked in the top 5% of the GB rankings. The proportions for Preston (20.3%) and Rossendale (18.4%) were also above the GB proportion (17.1%). In contrast, Ribble Valley (8.9%) had the tenth joint lowest UC proportion in Great Britain, and the lowest proportion in the L-14 area and the North West region.
Blackburn with Darwen (27,390 people) and Blackpool (25,833 people) had the largest and second largest UC totals in the Lancashire-14 area in November 2024.
Preston had the largest total number of persons on Universal Credit (21,076) within the Lancashire-12 area in November 2024, followed by Burnley (16,422), Pendle (15,577), Lancaster (14,870) and Hyndburn (13,362). Ribble Valley (3,433) had the lowest number of persons on Universal Credit in the area.
Monthly change
Between October 2024 and November 2024, the Lancashire-12 UC total increased by 1.2% and the Lancashire-14 total rose by 1.3% (GB = +1.6%). All of the Lancashire-14 local authority areas saw increases to their UC totals over the month.
Yearly change
Compared to November 2023, the total number of persons on UC has increased by 18.6% in Lancashire-12 and increased by 19.1% in Lancashire-14 (GB = +16.9%).
Pendle (+33.1%) has seen the largest yearly percentage increase in the total number of people on Universal Credit in Great Britain (+16.9%) - out of 350 local authorities; Blackburn with Darwen (+29.0%) recorded the third largest percentage increase nationally. The yearly percentage increases for Ribble Valley (+21.8%), Preston (+20.6%) Hyndburn (+20.5%), and Rossendale (+20.2%) fell in the highest 15 percent of the GB yearly percentage increase rankings; The yearly increases for Burnley (+18.1%) and Fylde (+17.9%) fell in the top 30%.
Within the Lancashire-14 area, the six areas of Wyre (+16.5%), South Ribble (+15.8%), Chorley (+15.6%), West Lancashire (+13.5%), Blackpool (+12.4%) and Lancaster (+9.9%) saw yearly percentage rises that were below the GB rise (+16.9%).
Yearly change by UC sub-category
The 'Not in employment' UC category accounts for about 63% of the total number of people on Universal Credit within Great Britain and at the Lancashire-12 and Lancashire-14 level. However, this percentage can vary substantially for some of the district or unitary authority areas.
The yearly percentage increases for the 'Not in employment' UC category are generally higher than those for the 'In employment' UC category.
The yearly percentage increases for the 'Not in employment' UC sub-category are similar in both the Lancashire-12 and Lancashire-14 areas (+21.7% and +21.8%, respectively). And both are higher than the Great Britain rise (+19.7%).
For the 'In employment' UC sub-category, the yearly percentage increase for the Lancashire-12 area (+13.7%) is slightly lower than that for the Lancashire-14 area (+14.6%). Both increases are higher than the yearly rise for Great Britain (+12.4%).
All Lancashire-14 areas recorded yearly increases to the 'Not in employment' UC category and the 'In employment' UC category. The accelerated pace of the increases are particularly evident in Pendle and Blackburn with Darwen.
Trends since 2022
The total number of people on Universal Credit has generally been on the increase once again since early 2022.
Much of the increase to the UC totals since early 2022 was driven initially by the 'Not in employment' UC sub-category, with a noticeable increase in the rate of increase for this sub-category from December 2023 to roughly March 2024. However, the numbers within the 'In employment' UC sub-category also rose at an accelerated pace from the autumn of 2023 to the spring of 2024. This contributed to the accelerated increases seen for the Universal Credit totals between December 2023 and March 2024.
From roughly April 2024, the pace of increase for both the 'Not in employment' and 'In employment' UC categories slowed. This slowdown is particularly noticeable for the 'In employment' sub-category. However, the pace of increase for the 'In employment' UC category appears to be increasing at a faster rate once again from September 2024.
Information on Universal Credit data
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 the 2024/25 tax year with the migration of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) cases estimated to continue until the 2028/29 tax year. Further information on Universal Credit statistics can be found via this link.
16-65 denominators
As from the analysis of the Universal Credit data for November 2024 (revised), the working age denominators have changed to those persons aged 16 to 65 (from 16 to 64).
The working age proportions for persons aged 16 to 65 years have been produced using 2015 to 2022 rebased mid-year population estimates published by the Office for National Statistics on 15 July 2024. Mid-year popualtion estimates have been rebased from 2011 to 2022 following the 2021 Census in England and Wales and the 2022 Census in Scotland. The latest rebased estimates were published on 15 July 2024. These are available via Nomisweb (Population estimates / Projections) datasets.
2023 mid-year population estimates for England and Wales are sourced from Nomisweb (Population estimates / Projections), published 15 July 2024 and for Scotland from National Records of Scotland, published on 8 October 2024. Mid-year population estimates for 2023 have been used from January 2023 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.
Universal Credit full service rollout
Lancaster became a Universal Credit full service area in July 2016 – the first in the Lancashire-14 area. This means that persons can process claims online, rather than via the phone. More complex claims are also processed. The result was an acceleration in the number of persons claiming Universal Credit in Lancaster. This was followed by
- Burnley, May 2017
- West Lancashire, December 2017
- Blackburn with Darwen and Hyndburn, February 2018
- Preston and South Ribble, March 2018
- Chorley, April 2018
- Pendle, Ribble Valley and Rossendale, July 2018
- Fylde, Wyre and Blackpool, September 2018
Data revised downwards from January 2016 to December 2018
The DWP has identified problems relating to individuals with multiple spells on Universal Credit (UC).
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 DWP recommends that users do not use previously published Universal Credit Official Statistics for People on Universal Credit made between 8 January 2016 and 13 December 2018. Further details are contained the Statistical Notice published by the DWP on 19 February 2019.
Analysis for November 2024 (revised data)
Lancashire-12 summary
Total number of people on Universal Credit
In November 2024, the total number of people on Universal Credit (UC) in the Lancashire-12 area (L-12) was 140,793 persons or 17.8% of persons aged 16-65 (GB=17.1%).
Over the month, the total increased by 1,714 persons or 1.2% (GB=+1.6%) and the proportion increased by 0.2 percentage points (pp) (GB=+0.2pp). Over the year, the total increased by 22,076 persons or 18.6% (GB=+16.9%) and the proportion increased by 2.8pp (GB=+2.4pp).
People on Universal Credit 'Not in employment' category
In November 2024, the Lancashire-12 'Not in employment' UC category was 88,205 persons, or 11.1% of persons aged 16-65 (GB=10.8%). This category accounted for 62.6% of the UC total (GB=62.8%).
Over the month, it increased by 1,334 persons or 1.5% (GB=+2.0%) and the proportion increased by 0.1pp (GB=+0.2pp). Over the year, it increased by 15,747 persons or 21.7% (GB=+19.7%) and the proportion increased by 1.9pp (GB=+1.8pp).
People on Universal Credit 'In employment' category
In November 2024, the Lancashire-12 'In employment' UC category was 52,583 persons or 6.6% of persons aged 16-65 (GB=6.4%). This category accounted for 37.3% of the UC total (GB=37.2%).
Over the month, numbers increased by 365 persons or 0.7% (GB= +0.9%) however the proportion was unchanged 0.0pp (GB= +0.1pp). Over the year, numbers increased by 6,326 persons or 13.7% (GB=+12.4%) and the proportion increased by 0.8pp (GB=+0.7pp).
People on Universal Credit and proportions (% of persons aged 16 to 65), November 2024 (revised)
Note: Denominators and proportions - see above 'Things you need to know about the data'.
Source: People on Universal Credit via DWP via Stat-Xplore, and Nomisweb (Population estimates / Projections) datasets for rebased 2015 to 2022 mid-year population estimates, published on 15 July 2024. 2023 mid-year population estimates for England and Wales sourced from Nomisweb (Population estimates / Projections), published 15 July 2024 and for Scotland from National Records of Scotland, published on 8 October 2024.
Lancashire-14 summary
Total number of people on Universal Credit
In November 2024, the UC total in the Lancashire-14 area, was 194,016 persons or 19.8% of persons aged 16-65 (GB=17.1%).
Over the month, the total increased by 2,466 people or 1.3% (GB=+1.6%) and the proportion rose by 0.3pp (GB=+0.2pp). Over the year, the total increased by 31,083 persons or 19.1% (GB=+16.9%) and the proportion increased by 3.2pp (GB=+2.4pp).
People on Universal Credit 'Not in employment' category
In November 2024, the Lancashire-14 'Not in employment' UC category was 123,108 persons or 12.5% of persons aged 16-65 (GB=10.8%). This category accounted for 63.5% of the UC total (GB=62.8%).
Over the month, it increased by 1,947 persons or 1.6% (GB=+2.0%) and the proportion rose by 0.2pp (GB=+0.2pp). Over the year, it increased by 22,046 persons or 21.8% (GB=+19.7%) and the proportion increased by 2.2pp (GB=+1.8pp).
People on Universal Credit 'In employment' category
In November 2024, the Lancashire-14 'In employment' UC category was 70,903 persons or 7.2% of persons aged 16-65 (GB=6.4%). This category accounted for 36.5% of the UC total (GB=37.2%).
Over the month, numbers were up by 506 persons or 0.7% (GB= +0.9%) however the proportion was unchanged 0.0pp (GB= +0.1pp). Over the year, numbers increased by 9,033 persons or 14.6% and the proportion increased by 0.9pp (GB=+0.7pp).
Yearly change in total Universal Credit numbers
From November 2023 to November 2024, the Lancashire-12 total increased by 22,076 persons or 18.6% (GB=+16.9%) and the proportion increased by 2.8pp (GB=+2.4pp). The Lancashire-14 total increased by 31,083 persons over the year or 19.1% (GB=+16.9%) and the proportion increased by 3.2pp (GB=+2.4pp). Both of these percentage increases were above the UK yearly rise.
All Lancashire-14 areas saw increases to their total Universal Credit numbers over the year.
Eight of the Lancashire-14 areas saw yearly percentage increases to their totals that were above the GB increase (+16.9%).
Pendle (+33.1%, up 3,874 people) has seen the largest yearly percentage increase in Great Britain (+16.9%) in the total number of people on Universal Credit - out of 350 local authorities; Blackburn with Darwen (+29.0%, up 6,165 people) recorded the third largest percentage increase nationally.
The yearly percentage increases for Ribble Valley (+21.8%, up 614 people), Preston (+20.6%, up 3,599 people), Hyndburn (+20.5%, up 2,276 people), and Rossendale (+20.2%, up 1,385 people) fell in the highest 15 percent of the GB yearly percentage increase rankings; The yearly percentage increases for Burnley (+18.1%, up 2,516 people) and Fylde (+17.9%, up 1,018 people) fell in the top 30%.
Within the Lancashire-14 area, the six areas of Wyre (+16.5%, up 1,511 people), South Ribble (+15.8%, up 1,251 people), Chorley (+15.6%, up 1,363 people), West Lancashire (+13.5%, up 1,327 people), Blackpool (+12.4%, up 2,842 people) and Lancaster (+9.9%, up 1,342 people) saw yearly percentage rises that were below the GB rise (+16.9%).
Composition of the yearly change by Universal Credit sub-category
Context - recent changes since 2022
Much of the increase to the UC totals since early 2022 was driven initially by the 'Not in employment' UC sub-category, with a noticeable increase in the rate of increase for this sub-category from December 2023 to roughly March 2024. However, the numbers within the 'In employment' UC sub-category also rose at an accelerated pace from the autumn of 2023 to the spring of 2024. This added to the increases seen for the Universal Credit totals between December 2023 and March 2024.
From the spring of 2024 (roughly April 2024), the pace of increase for both the 'Not in employment' and 'In employment' UC categories slowed. This slowdown is particularly noticeable for the 'In employment' sub-category. However, the pace of increase for the 'In employment' UC category appears to be increasing at a faster rate once again from September 2024.
For the 'Not in employment' UC category, within the Lancashire-14 area, South Ribble, Blackpool, Lancaster and Wyre saw the most noticeable flattening of numbers for this sub-category in the first half of 2024. These four areas, plus Burnley, Chorley, Preston and Ribble Valley each saw a reduction in numbers in this sub-category in at least one month during 2024. Over the year, however, the number of people on Universal Credit in this sub-category are higher in November 2024 than in November 2023 for all of the Lancashire-14 local authority areas.
For the 'In employment' UC category, although the number of people on Universal Credit are higher in November 2024 than in November 2023 for all of the Lancashire-14 local authority areas, numbers remain lower than the high points recorded earlier in 2024 for the eight areas of Chorley, Fylde, Hyndburn, Lancaster, Rossendale, West Lancashire, Wyre and Blackpool. All of the Lancashire-14 areas saw a reduction in numbers in this sub-category in at least one month during 2024.
Yearly change - UC sub-category summary
The 'Not in employment' UC category accounts for about 63% of the total number of people on Universal Credit within Great Britain and at the Lancashire-12 and Lancashire-14 level. The 'In employment' UC category accounts for about 37% of the total. However, these percentages can vary substantially for some of the district or unitary authority areas.
All Lancashire-14 areas recorded yearly increases to both the 'Not in employment' and 'In employment' UC categories.
The yearly percentage increases for the 'Not in employment' UC category are generally higher than those for the 'In employment' UC category.
The yearly percentage increases for the 'Not in employment' UC sub-category are similar in both the Lancashire-12 and Lancashire-14 areas (+21.7% and +21.8%, respectively). And both are higher than the Great Britain rise (+19.7%).
For the 'In employment' UC sub-category, the yearly percentage increase for the Lancashire-12 area (+13.7%) is slightly lower than that for the Lancashire-14 area (+14.6%). Both increases are higher than the yearly rise for Great Britain (+12.4%).
Yearly change - 'Not in employment' UC sub-category
The yearly percentage increases for the 'Not in employment' UC sub-category are similar in both the Lancashire-12 and Lancashire-14 areas (+21.7% and +21.8%, respectively). Both of these percentage increases were above the UK rise (+19.7%). The Lancashire-14 'Not in employment' UC sub-category was up by 22,046 people. The Lancashire-12 'In employment' UC sub-category was up 15,747 people.
Eight of the Lancashire-14 areas saw yearly percentage increases for the 'Not in employment' UC category that were above the GB rise of 19.7%.
Pendle saw the largest yearly percentage increase (+37.9%, up 2,792 people) in Great Britain for the 'Not in employment' UC category (out of 350 local authorities); Blackburn with Darwen (+28.1%, up 3,902 people) recorded the fifth largest percentage increase in GB. And the yearly percentage increases for Hyndburn (+25.5%, up 1,783 people) and Rossendale (+24.5%, up 1,035 people) fell in the highest ten percent of the GB yearly percentage increase rankings for this sub-category. These four areas are located in East Lancashire.
Within the Lancashire-14 area, the six areas of Lancaster (+12.1%, up 992 people), Blackpool (+16.3%, up 2,397 people), West Lancashire (+17.7%, up 1,042 persons), Wyre (+18.3%, up 1,030 persons), Chorley (+19.2%, up 970 persons) and South Ribble (+19.5%, up 857 people) saw yearly percentage increases that were below the GB rise (+19.7%) for the 'Not in employment' UC category. These six areas are located in the west of Lancashire.
Yearly change - 'In employment' UC sub-category
The Lancashire-14 yearly percentage increase was 14.6% (up 9,033 people). The Lancashire-12 yearly percentage increase was 13.7% (up 6,326 people). Both of these percentage increases were above the UK rise (+12.4%).
Seven of the Lancashire-14 areas recorded yearly percentage increases for the 'In employment' UC category that were greater than the GB rise of 12.4%.
Blackburn with Darwen had the second largest yearly percentage increase (+30.7%, up 2,260 people) in Great Britain for the 'In employment' UC category (out of 350 local authorities), behind the percentage rise in the Orkney Islands (+32.8%, up 158 people); Pendle (+24.9%, up 3,874 people) saw the sixth largest percentage increase in GB. The yearly percentage increases for Ribble Valley (+20.4%, up 270 persons) and Preston (+18.5%, up 1,213 people) fell in the highest ten percent of the GB yearly percentage increase rankings for this sub-category.
Within the Lancashire-14 area, Blackpool (+5.4%, up 447 people), Lancaster (+6.7%, up 353 people) and West Lancashire (+7.3%, up 287 persons) recorded the lowest yearly percentage rises - below the GB rise (+12.4%) for the 'In employment' UC category.
Impact of Covid-19 on Universal Credit: March 2020 to 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).
Data
Page updated 31 January 2025