The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is set to send payments of up to £1,330 to 44 per cent of Universal Credit claimants before June, as the caseload reaches a record high. Official figures reveal that Universal Credit cases have surged by 830,000 over the past twelve months, rising from 7.5 million in February 2025 to over 8 million in February 2026—the highest number since the benefit was introduced in 2013.
Key Payment Details
Families with children constitute 44 per cent of all paying households, according to DWP data. Couples with children receive the highest average monthly payment at £1,330, with the next instalment due in June. In contrast, single people without children receive the lowest average payment of £800 per month. The overall average monthly payment across all households now stands at £1,030.
The surge in claims comes amid mounting pressure on the DWP to reduce the welfare bill, which continues to balloon due to the ongoing cost of living crisis. A DWP spokesperson commented: "Nearly 80 per cent of the increase in Universal Credit cases since July 2024 is driven by people moving from legacy benefits – a transition started by the previous government. We inherited a broken welfare system and we’re fixing it. We’ve already rebalanced Universal Credit to tackle the perverse incentives that discourage work and redeployed 1,000 work coaches to support thousands of sick and disabled people who were previously left without contact for years."
Government Response
Sir Stephen Timms, the DWP minister, previously stated: "The Government has taken important steps to improve the support available to help people with the cost of essentials and has legislated to deliver the first sustained above inflation rise in the basic rate of Universal Credit since it was introduced. In April 2026, the standard allowance rose by 3.8% in line with the Consumer Prices Index to September 2025, followed by a further 2.3%, meaning a single person aged 25 or over will receive around £295 more this year - over £110 more than if uprated by inflation alone."
He added: "Additional amounts are added to provide for individual needs such as housing, disability, and childcare costs. Each household will always have different requirements depending on their circumstances. We will continue to consider evidence and insights from a range of organisations and people with lived experiences, to ensure the social security system provides the support people need."
