Written questions

Universal Credit: Employment

Commons · Question 96825 · Tabled 3 Dec 2025 · Department for Work and Pensions · Official record

Answered 5 Jan 2026

Question

Asked by Louie French

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the causes of the increase in Universal Credit claimants who are not required to work; and what steps he is taking to reduce the number of Universal Credit claimants who a

Answer

Answered by Sir Stephen Timms, 5 Jan 2026

The vast majority of the increase in the UC Health caseload is because the decision was taken by the last government to move sick and disabled people from Employment and Support Allowance onto Universal Credit at scale - a transition we inherited, along w...