BRITAIN’s benefits bill is being fuelled by a record 8 million people now on Universal Credit — with nearly half not expected to work, official figures show.
New data reveals the July 2025 figure is the highest since UC launched in 2013, up from 6.9 million a year earlier.
1
Some 46 per cent are in the “no work requirements” group — meaning they are not asked to find a job, often because of long-term sickness, caring duties, being over pension age or having a baby under one.
The DWP says this share is continuing to increase and now covers 3.7 million people, overtaking jobseekers as the biggest group on the benefit.
Only 34 per cent of people on UC were in work in June 2025, equal to 2.7 million claimants.
The latest snapshot also shows 58 per cent of all claimants are women, and the typical age has risen to 40.
DWP figures reveal almost one in ten people on UC are in the EU Settlement Scheme group, while 1.5 per cent are refugees and 0.9 per cent have limited leave to remain.
There were an average 58,000 new claims each week in July – higher than the same period last year – as the cost of living squeeze continues to bite.
