Kemi Badenoch on Universal Credit claimants, Budget debate 26 November 2025

The statement

There are 1 million more people claiming universal credit than there were at the time of the last Budget.

Kemi Badenoch, 26 November 2025. Source

What the sources report

• Department for Work and Pensions, Universal Credit statistics, 29 April 2013 to 9 October 2025 reports people on Universal Credit, Great Britain (October 2025): 8.3million people^src
• Department for Work and Pensions, Universal Credit statistics, 29 April 2013 to 9 October 2025 reports people on Universal Credit, Great Britain (October 2024): 7.2million people^src
• Department for Work and Pensions, Universal Credit quarterly statistics, 29 April 2013 to 14 May 2026 reports people on Universal Credit, Great Britain (May 2026, latest): 8.4million people^src

Notes

DWP reports 8.3 million people on Universal Credit in October 2025 and 7.2 million in October 2024. The previous Budget was on 30 October 2024.

DWP reports 8.4 million people on Universal Credit in May 2026, the latest figure.

Part of the rise reflects the planned move of people from older benefits to Universal Credit; DWP release notes describe this.