Increased number of individual claimants on Universal Credit

Date published: 25 June 2025

New official statistics in development published on 26/06/2025 by NISRA statisticians in the Department for Communities reveal that the number of individuals claiming Universal Credit has increased by 3% from November 2024 to February 2025.

Universal credit provides a single award per household based upon the circumstances of the household. Universal credit is available to people who are in work and on a low income, as well as to those who are out of work.

Key Findings:

• 187,400 households on the caseload, an increase of 2.9% from November 2024.
• 176,030 of the households were in paid receipt of Universal Credit, accounting for 94% of the households on Universal Credit.
• 4800 new households started claiming Universal Credit in February 2025.
• 1,420 households completed their migration to Universal Credit from legacy benefits in February 2025, as part of the "Move to UC" phase of migration, bringing the total number of migrated households to 37,290.
• £1000 was the average monthly amount of Universal Credit paid to the 176,030 households in payment, an increase of £140 from February 2024.
• 35,300 claimants were in the "searching for work" conditionality regime, representing 16% of the caseload.
• 55% (120,860) of claimants were in the "no work requirements" conditionality regime.
• 42% of households in payment (73,930 households) were single people without children.

About the Publication:

This publication contains statistics on Universal Credit (UC) in Northern Ireland from its commencement on 27 September 2017 until the end of February 2025. Universal credit began rolling out on a phased geographical basis in Northern Ireland on 27th September 2017. 

This publication presents statistical information for the following sections within Universal Credit:

• Claimants
• Age & gender
• Conditionality regime
• Households
• Household starts
• Family composition
• Average payment
• Additional elements
• Housing support
• Advances
• Sanctions
• Geography

Further Information:

For the full HTML report please visit: Universal Credit Publication

For the publication page and associated documents and tables please visit: Universal Credit Statistics - February 2025 | Department for Communities