DWP publishes Universal Credit statistics covering claims through mid-August 2026

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published official Universal Credit statistics covering the period from 29 April 2013 to 13 August 2026. The release was issued on 18 August 2026 and applies across Great Britain, not as an Ealing-only announcement.

The dataset reports the number of people on Universal Credit by geography, age, conditionality regime, duration on the benefit, and employment status, including self-employment. It also includes a move-to-Universal-Credit indicator, plus breakdowns by ethnicity, nationality and immigration status.

Household-level figures cover geography, family type, number of children, entitlements, payment timelines, deductions and childcare. Separate statistics track claims and starts on Universal Credit by geography, age, gender and related rates.

For residents of Ealing, the statistics matter because Universal Credit is the main working-age benefit administered through Jobcentre Plus and online accounts for many households in London and across England. The figures can help people understand national patterns in who receives the benefit, how long claims last, and how employment or deductions feature in the caseload. They do not change individual awards.

Eligibility and payment amounts remain conditional on personal circumstances, including work status, income, housing costs and household composition. Nothing in the statistical release implies that every resident qualifies or that local take-up matches any national average. Claimants should check their own Universal Credit account or official GOV.UK guidance for decisions that affect them.

The publication is a scheduled official statistics product rather than a policy change. It offers a factual snapshot of the caseload up to 13 August 2026 and may be updated in future releases. Anyone seeking advice on a live claim should use official DWP channels rather than relying on summary statistics alone.