Key points
A summary of the main stories of Universal Credit at 28 February 2023 are as follows:
- 129,710 households on the caseload, an increase of 1.1% from November 2022
- 120,420 of the households were in paid receipt of Universal Credit, accounting for 93% of the households on Universal Credit
- 148,240 individual claimants were on Universal Credit, an increase of 0.8% from November 2022
- 3,690 new households started claiming Universal Credit in February 2023
- £770 was the average monthly amount of Universal Credit paid to the 120,420 households in payment, an increase of £40 from February 2022
- 29,510 claimants in the 'searching for work' conditionality regime, representing 20% of the caseload
- 49% of households in payment (58,630 households) were single people without children
Introduction
This publication contains statistics on Universal Credit (UC) in Northern Ireland from its commencement on 27th September 2017 until the end of February 2023. UC began rolling out on a phased geographical basis in Northern Ireland on 27th September 2017. Roll out for new claims in Northern Ireland completed on 5th December 2018.
UC provides a single award per household based upon the circumstances of the household. Support for housing costs, children and childcare costs are integrated into UC via additional elements. It also provides additions for disabled people and carers. UC is available to people who are in work and on a low income, as well as to those who are out of work. UC replaces six existing benefits and tax credits; Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Housing Benefit.
Data accompanying this publication
Supplementary tables (Open Document Spreadsheet) accompanying this publication are available on the Department for Communities (DfC) website
Publication charts
Households
The number of households on Universal Credit had been rising steadily since it was rolled out in Northern Ireland. However, the number of households on Universal Credit almost doubled between February and July 2020 when the government introduced restrictions due to the Coronavirus pandemic. There were 129,710 households on Universal Credit at February 2023. This is an increase of 1.1% from 128,350 households in November 2022 and an increase of 12.3% from February 2022 (115,490 households).
Figure 1: Households on Universal Credit up to February 2023
In February 2023, the majority of households (93%) were in paid receipt of Universal Credit (120,420), an increase from 115,780 in November 2022. There were 9,290 households not in receipt of payment. The most common reason for a Universal Credit award being reduced to nil is due to monthly earnings within the household exceeding the earnings threshold.
Claimants
The number of claimants on Universal Credit reached 148,240 in February 2023. This is an increase of 0.8% from November 2022 (147,000 claimants) and an increase of 12.2% from February 2022 (132,170 claimants).
Figure 2: Claimants on Universal Credit up to February 2023
The increase in the number of people on Universal Credit since March 2020 should be considered in the context of:
- Changes in income or employment status resulting from the coronavirus pandemic;
- Changes announced to support people through the coronavirus pandemic, including a temporary £1,040 a year increase to the standard allowance between March 2020 and October 2021;
- A temporary policy change whereby nil payment awards were kept open for up to six assessment periods of nil payment, rather than being closed if claimant earnings reduce their award to nil.
Household starts
In February 2023, 3,690 new households started on Universal Credit. The three-month average was 3,650 households. The highest rate of new households occurred in April 2020 when 29,590 households claimed Universal Credit.
Figure 3: Household starts on Universal Credit up to February 2023
Conditionality regime
All claimants on Universal Credit are assigned to a conditionality group that determines what type of work-related activity they must carry out to retain eligibility for Universal Credit. In February 2023 there were 29,510 claimants in the 'searching for work' conditionality regime, representing 20% of the caseload. This is a decrease from 29,700 claimants in February 2022.
Figure 4: Claimants by UC conditionality regime up to February 2023
In February 2023, there were 70,560 claimants on Universal Credit in the 'no work requirements' conditionality regime. This represents 48% of the caseload. This has increased from 56,180 claimants with 'no work requirements' in February 2022.
Figure 5: Claimants by UC conditionality regime at February 2023
There were 37,410 claimants classed as 'in work'. This total includes claimants in both the 'working with requirements' and 'working with no requirements' regimes. This accounted for 25% of the caseload in February 2023. Universal Credit claimants in other conditionality regimes may also be in work but are not included in this total. For example some claimants in the 'searching for work' regime may be in employment.
Family composition
In February 2023, the highest proportion of Universal Credit households in payment were single people (49%). This accounted for 58,630 households. There were 45,130 lone parent households (37%), 12,140 couples with children (10% of households) and 4,530 households consisting of couples without children (4%).
Figure 6: Family composition of households in payment at February 2023
Average payment
The average amount of Universal Credit paid to the 120,420 households in payment in February 2023 was £770 per month. This was an increase of £40 from February 2022.
Figure 7: Average payment of households up to February 2023
The decrease in average payment of Universal Credit in autumn 2021 is due to the end of a temporary £1,040 a year increase to the standard allowance in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Figure 8: Average payment of households by family composition at February 2023
Households with children had higher average payments due to entitlement to support for one or more children, and a higher proportion with entitlement to support for housing. Lone parents received on average £1,000 whilst couples with children received an average of £930 in February 2023.
Additional elements
Under Universal Credit, households can qualify for additional elements on top of their standard allowance, depending on their circumstances. The number of households claiming additional elements had been increasing gradually prior to the coronavirus pandemic as Universal Credit gradually replaced existing legacy benefits for new claims.
Figure 9: Households in payment receiving additional elements up to February 2023
In the first few months of the pandemic (March and April 2020), the number of households claiming additional elements increased notably as the number of claimants rose. This was particularly the case for housing and child elements. In February 2023, 68,620 (57%) households in payment claimed housing element and 57,270 (48%) households claimed child element for at least one child.
Figure 10: Proportion of households in payment receiving additional elements up to February 2023
There were 36% (43,260) of households in payment claiming limited capability for work element. This is applicable to any household where an individual has limited capability for work or work related activity. In February 2023, there were 1,820 (2%) households in payment that received no additional elements.
Housing support
Support for housing costs (housing entitlement) was included in 68,620 (57%) of households receiving a payment in February 2023. This is an increase of 7,970 from February 2022. In Northern Ireland, support for housing costs is made by direct payment to landlord, by default, where renting.This policy position differs from Great Britain where Universal Credit payments are made directly to the claimant by default.
Figure 11: Households in payment receiving housing support up to February 2023
Social sector and private sector rent make up the vast majority of housing assistance claimed by households. In February 2023, 34,310 of households receiving a payment of Universal Credit with entitlement to support for housing were in the social rented sector, compared to 33,350 in the private rented sector. Of the aforementioned social rented sector households, 98% had their housing support paid directly to a landlord compared to 52% in the private rental sector.
Advances
If a household on Universal Credit is in financial difficulty, they can apply for a range of financial supports including an advance payment. The ‘new claim advance’ is the most common type of advance and assists new claimants that do not have enough money to live on until their first payment. In February 2023, there were 940 new claim advances issued to households with an average advance of £540.
Figure 12: New claim advances up to February 2023
The highest number of new claim advances issued in a month was in March 2020 when 6,090 households received an advance.
Figure 13: Average new claim advance by family composition at February 2023
In February 2023, there were 170 new claim advances issued to lone parents and 90 to couples with children. The average amount was £740 for lone parents and £950 to couples with children. There were 620 new claim advances issued to single people without children, with an average of £400, and 60 issued to couples without children (average £830).
Sanctions
When making a claim to Universal Credit, claimants agree to meet certain work requirements, depending on their circumstances. If work requirements are not met without good reason, claimants can be subject to a sanction, resulting in a reduction to the standard allowance portion of their Universal Credit award. Sanctions are only put in place as a last resort. In February 2023, 1,250 claimants had a deduction taken from their Universal Credit award for that month due to a sanction. This has increased from 1,030 claimants in November 2022.
Figure 14: Claimants with a reduction in benefit amount due to a sanction up to February 2023
Legislative changes in response to the Coronavirus pandemic disapplied work search and work availability requirements leading to a significant drop in the number of those affected from March 2020 until early 2022.
Geography
The largest geographical area for claimants by Local Government District is Belfast with 34,760 claimants. This represents 23% of the Universal Credit claimant caseload.
Figure 15: Claimants by Local Government District at February 2023
The darker areas of the map are districts with higher numbers of Universal Credit claimants, while the lighter areas are the districts with fewer Universal Credit claimants. Additional geographical breakdowns are available within the supplementary tables that accompany this publication.
Notes
Rounding
Figures contained within this publication have been rounded to the nearest ten. Percentages and totals shown are calculated using unrounded figures before rounding. Some totals therefore may not sum due to rounding.
Background information
Universal Credit is a single payment for each household, to help with living costs for those on a low income or out of work. Support for housing costs, children and childcare costs are integrated into Universal Credit. It also provides additions for people with a disability, health condition or caring responsibilities which may prevent them from working. Universal Credit replaces:
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Housing Benefit
The main features of Universal Credit are the following:
- it is available to people who are in work and on a low income, as well as to those who are out of work
- it is responsive to earnings, whereby the monthly Universal Credit payment will adjust accordingly as claimants move in and out of work
- most claimants on low incomes will still be paid Universal Credit and receive work coach support when they start a new job or increase their hours
- claimants will receive a single monthly household payment paid into a bank account. In some cases, payment can be split between claimants in a household
- support with housing costs can go to the claimant or be paid directly to the landlord
- most people will apply online and manage their claim through an online account
Impact of Coronavirus
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which spread to the UK in early 2020 affected the entire population, with many businesses unable to trade and many employees being temporarily unable to work. Temporary changes were made to Universal Credit as a means of supporting households during this period, alongside other schemes the government introduced. As a result, there was a marked increase in the number of claims for Universal Credit.
Changes made to Universal Credit during the coronavirus pandemic include:
- a temporary £1,040 a year increase to the standard allowance for 18 months from April 2020 was introduced as part of a support package for people through the coronavirus pandemic – this temporary increase to the standard allowance ended on 6 October 2021
- local housing allowance rates increased to the 30th percentile of local rents from April 2020
- for the self-employed, the Minimum Income Floor not being applied for the period that the government’s support policies were in place for the coronavirus pandemic
- a temporary policy change of £0 payment awards being open for up to six assessment periods of £0 awards
Related Statistics
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are responsible for official statistics on Universal Credit for England, Scotland and Wales. Publications can be viewed at the UK government website.
Other Benefit Statistics produced by the Department for Communities can be found on the DfC website.
To view experimental claimant count statistics for Northern Ireland please visit Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
For more information on Universal Credit please visit NI Direct.
Contact information
- Issued by Professional Services Unit: psu@communities-ni.gov.uk
- Statistician: Claire McCann
- Media enquiries should be directed to the DfC press office: press.office@communities-ni.gov.uk
Data quality and methodology
The Universal Credit statistics have been developed to provide the primary official source of information about claimants and households on Universal Credit. They enable a variety of users to be informed about different elements of the benefit, as well as geographic information and characteristics of those taking up Universal Credit. The statistics are published quarterly in a timely manner to best meet user needs without compromising the quality of the data. While every effort is made to collect data to the highest quality, as with all administrative data it is dependent on the accuracy of information entered into the system.
Universal Credit Full Service (UCFS)
This is the main data source for the administration of Universal Credit claims. Information is entered by the claimant and verified by the jobcentre officials. Used as the base data source for these statistics to determine who is on Universal Credit and the details of the various elements of Universal Credit.
Retrospection
The statistics contained within the publication and supplementary tables are subject to revision in any future releases. This is to account for retrospective actions on the Universal Credit Full Service system (UCFS). The methodology, structure and format of the measures for gathering these statistics are still in development and are also in the process of being quality assured. As such this may also lead to a revision of the figures contained within. These revisions are performed in accordance with T3.9 of the UK Statistics Authority Code of Practice for Statistics. Revised figures within these tables may be from October 2017. More recent periods tend to be subject to a greater degree of revision than more distant ones.
Limitations
While quality assurance checks are completed on the NI Universal Credit data and statistical outputs prior to publication, errors in the statistics may occasionally arise due to IT system errors or human error. In the event of errors in statistical outputs, corrections will be made as soon as is practicably possible and notification of corrections will be published on the NI UC Statistics website. It is not currently possible to publish statistics on all aspects of Universal Credit data. Future changes to the statistical outputs will be led by user requirements and will be dependent on the availability of data needed to produce these outputs. Any additional outputs will be subject to rigorous quality assurance of methodology before publishing.
Glossary of terms
Additional elements
In addition to the standard allowance, there are additional amounts that a household may qualify for based on their circumstances. The additional elements are:
- Child element: an extra amount for each child up to a maximum of two children, or subsequent children if certain conditions are met
- Childcare costs element: a household will qualify for this element if they are currently paying for registered childcare
- Disabled child element: an extra amount for any disabled or severely disabled child no matter how many children you have or when they were born
- Limited capability for work element: one of two amounts for claimants with limited capability for work (abolished for most new claimants from 3 April 2017) or limited capability for work-related activity
- Carer element: a household will qualify for this element if they are caring for a severely disabled person for at least 35 hours a week
- Housing costs element: assistance primarily for households that are paying rent to a landlord. Eligible owner-occupiers can receive support for mortgage interest
Advance
Financial support that can be paid to claimants and paid back through future Universal Credit payments. Different reasons for an advance include:
- new claim: the household is in financial need and does not have enough money to live on until their first Universal Credit payment
- change of circumstances: the household is already claiming Universal Credit, and the payment is increasing due to a change in circumstances, but the increase has not yet been received
- budgeting: the household requires assistance with help getting a job, staying in work, or to pay for emergency household costs
Alternative payments
Households can receive two types of alternative payment arrangements:
- more frequent payments: in instances where it is identified that one monthly payment is not suitable for a household, it may be possible to have their Universal Credit award divided over the month and paid more frequently
- split payments: the payment of Universal Credit can be divided between two members of the household
Assessment period
A rolling one month period in which the household’s circumstances are assessed for the amount of Universal Credit they are entitled to.
Benefit cap
The limit to the total amount of benefits that most working age people can get. The benefit cap can be applied through Universal Credit so that the amount received by the household does not exceed the cap.
Benefit unit
See households.
Capital
Any capital and savings that a household has worth between £6,000 and £16,000 will reduce the overall Universal Credit that a household is paid. Having capital worth more than £16,000 means the claimant will not be entitled to Universal Credit.
Claimant
Claimants on Universal Credit include all individual members of a household who have started and are still on Universal Credit at the end of the reported month.
Claimant commitment
A record of the responsibilities that have to be accepted in order to receive Universal Credit.
Claims
Submitted application to receive Universal Credit including a declaration of personal circumstances.
Closure
A closure represents the end of a claimant’s spell. This may mean that their claim is temporarily stopped due to a temporary change in circumstances, or it may be a permanent end to a claim.
Conditionality regime
Claimants must agree to do certain activities by signing a claimant commitment to receive their Universal Credit award. The conditionality regime determines what work related activity (if appropriate) a claimant is required to do, the level of contact with the claimant and the support that they will receive. The six groups are:
- No work requirements: for a claimant where health or caring responsibilities prevents them from working or preparing for work, are in full-time education or are over state pension age
- Planning for work: for a claimant that is expected to work in the future and is required to attend periodic interviews to plan for their return to work
- Preparing for work: for a claimant that is expected to take reasonable steps to prepare for work
- Searching for work: for a claimant that is not working, or with very low earnings, and doesn’t fit into any of the other labour market regimes
- Working, with requirements: for a claimant that is in work but could earn more, or is not working but has a partner with low earnings
- Working, no requirements: for a claimant that has individual or household earnings over the level at which they will be subject to conditionality
Claimants in the same household may be subject to different conditionality requirements. Claimants may also move between different conditionality regimes during their time on Universal Credit.
Declaration
When an individual/household provides information on their personal circumstances to begin a UC claim.
Entitlement
The maximum amount a household is eligible for. The amount a household will receive is worked out each month, so it may be different from one month to the next if they earn a different amount, or if their circumstances change.
Households
A single adult or a married or cohabiting couple and any dependant children. Also known as a benefit unit.
Housing costs
Assistance with the following housing costs:
- rent to a private landlord
- rent and some service charges if the claimant(s) rents from a housing association or local authority, for example council housing
- interest payments on a mortgage and some service charges if the claimant(s) owns the property they live in
In-payment
A household is in payment if they are receiving a payment of any amount of Universal Credit in an assessment period. A household will be classed as ‘not in payment’ if they do not receive any payment of Universal Credit in an assessment period.
Managed migration
See Move to UC.
Maximum amount
A household’s maximum Universal Credit award is made up of one standard allowance and any additional elements that apply. The maximum amount will also take into account earnings, capital and other income from the household.
Move to UC
Programme to transfer to Universal Credit existing legacy benefit claimants. Also known as managed migration.
Natural migration
Claimants transferring to Universal Credit from legacy benefits as a result of a change in circumstances.
Nil award
It may be the case that a household has their Universal Credit award reduced to ‘nil’ due to earnings, deductions or sanctions. In this case, the household will be recorded as receiving a payment amount of £0 and therefore will be classified as ‘not in payment’.
Other income
Other income that a household receives, for example, from a pension or some other benefits. The Universal Credit award will be reduced by £1 for every £1 of other income.
Payment due date
The date by which a household should have received their payment.
Sanction
Under Universal Credit, a claimant must follow their claimant commitment in order to receive their payment. If they fail to meet the responsibilities that they agreed to in the claimant commitment, they may be subject to a reduction in their Universal Credit standard allowance for a set period.
Standard allowance
The basic Universal Credit entitlement of the household before any additional elements are applied. The standard allowance for a household will depend on whether the household is a single or joint claimant and the ages of the claimants.
Start
A starter to Universal Credit is defined as a household or individual who has completed the Universal Credit claim process and accepted their claimant commitment and had their identity verified.
Taper rate
The rate at which earnings reduce a household's award. It will reduce a household’s Universal Credit payment by 55p for every £1 of earnings above any applicable work allowance.
Work allowance
An amount that certain households can earn before their Universal Credit payment starts to be reduced by the taper rate. A claimant will be eligible for the work allowance if they are responsible for a child or young person, living with a disability or health condition that affects their ability to work.
Work capability assessment
An assessment that looks at activities related to physical and mental/cognitive functions. This is to determine whether an individual could be reasonably expected to work or undertake work related activity, or not.
Work coach
An official who provides support to Universal Credit claimants by mentoring and coaching to help the claimant meet the requirements recorded in their claimant commitment.
Experimental statistics
These statistics are experimental statistics. They have been compiled using data from records of Universal Credit benefit claims held by the Department for Communities. The methodology used and definitions of the statistics may be updated within subsequent releases, along with information on the impact of any changes to the time series already released. These statistics have been developed using guidelines set out by the UK Statistics Authority, and are new official statistics undergoing evaluation. Therefore, they have been designated as Experimental Statistics.
Users are invited to comment on the content, relevance and development of these statistics (Northern Ireland Universal Credit statistics feedback survey).