Social & Welfare
30 counters8.4 million people were on Universal Credit in May 2026, and spending on it is forecast at £79.2 billion in 2025-26. There are 4.0 million children in relative poverty after housing costs, and 4,793 people were counted sleeping rough in England on a single night in autumn 2025. The State Pension costs £146.1 billion a year (2025-26) and is paid to about 13.2 million people, including around 1.1 million living abroad. Approximately 68% of PIP benefit decisions that go to tribunal are overturned. Welfare statistics are sourced from the Department for Work and Pensions, MHCLG, the Ministry of Justice and Crisis.
People Receiving Universal Credit
Universal Credit Claims Made Today
Universal Credit Claims Made This Year
Working-Age & Children's Welfare Today
Working-Age & Children's Welfare This Year
People Receiving State Pension
Cost of State Pension Today
Cost of State Pension This Year
Children in Poverty Right Now
Pensioners in Poverty
People Receiving PIP Right Now
PIP Claims Made This Year
PIP Claims Rejected This Year
PIP Appeals Won This Year (68% overturned)
Benefit Sanctions Issued This Year
Cost of Benefit Sanctions This Year
Average Wait for First UC Payment
Food Bank Referrals from DWP This Year
People Sleeping Rough in England (autumn 2025)
Households in Temporary Accommodation
New Homelessness Cases This Year
Cost of Homelessness to Economy This Year
Looked After Children (in care) in England
Children Entering Care This Year
Cost of Children's Social Care This Year
Adoption Orders Made This Year
Domestic Abuse Refuge Spaces Needed vs Available
Cost of Domestic Abuse to Economy This Year
Annual Cost of Benefits Fraud + Error
Child Benefit Rate (eldest child)
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Based on official UK government data
How much does the UK spend on Universal Credit each year?
The UK is forecast to spend £79.2 billion on Universal Credit in 2025-26, according to DWP — part of £145.0 billion on working-age and children's welfare. Around 800,000 new UC claims are made each year. The State Pension costs a further £146.1 billion (2025-26), making social security the largest area of UK government expenditure — and a significant driver of the UK national debt , which now exceeds £2.99 trillion. Track it in real time on the live UK debt clock.
How many people are homeless in the UK?
Approximately 350,000 people experience homelessness in the UK each year in some form, according to Shelter and DLUHC statistics. This includes 135,580 households in temporary accommodation in England (March 2026), 4,793 people sleeping rough on a single night (autumn 2025), and many more in hidden homelessness. Homelessness costs the UK approximately £1.1 billion annually.
How many PIP claims are rejected in the UK each year?
Around 429,000 new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims were not awarded in the year to March 2025, based on DWP statistics. However, around 200,000 claimants successfully appeal these decisions annually, suggesting a high error rate in initial assessments. PIP is paid to around 3.9 million people (DWP, 2025-26).
Deep Dive Statistics
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Editorial articles using official UK government data