The UK Government has scheduled a release of Universal Credit health statistics to June 2026, covering the number of people on Universal Credit who have a health condition or disability that limits their ability to work. The figures come from the Work Capability Assessment process, which decides how a claimant’s health affects what the benefit expects of them.
These statistics matter because they show how many claimants are placed into health-related categories that change their payments and their work-related requirements. For anyone claiming Universal Credit because of illness or disability, the data offers a picture of how the system is being applied nationally.
The release is published on GOV.UK by the Department for Work and Pensions as part of its regular official statistics programme.
What do the Universal Credit health statistics to June 2026 cover?
According to the GOV.UK statistics announcement, this publication reports on people who claim Universal Credit and have a health condition or disability that restricts their capacity for work. In practice, that means the figures focus on claimants who have been through, or are going through, a Work Capability Assessment.
Calculate Your 2026 COLA Increase →- Main group covered: Universal Credit claimants with a health condition or disability affecting their ability to work.
- Assessment used: the Work Capability Assessment, which determines a claimant’s status.
- Reporting period: data up to June 2026.
The announcement itself does not publish the underlying numbers in advance; it confirms the scope of what will be reported and when. For the actual figures, readers should check the release once it is live.
What is a Work Capability Assessment?
The Work Capability Assessment is the process the DWP uses to decide how a person’s health condition or disability affects their ability to work. Because the outcome shapes both payment and work expectations, it is central to how health-related Universal Credit is delivered.
Following an assessment, a claimant is usually placed into one of two health-related categories:
- Limited capability for work (LCW): the claimant is not expected to work now but may be asked to prepare for work in future.
- Limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA): the claimant is not expected to work or to take steps towards work, and this group can qualify for an extra amount in their Universal Credit.
The published statistics count how many people fall into these groups. Exact totals for June 2026 are not stated in the announcement.
Who is affected by these figures?
The data concerns Universal Credit claimants across Great Britain who report a health condition or disability that limits their work capacity. This is one of the larger and most closely watched parts of the working-age benefit system, because health-related claims affect both the amount paid and the conditions attached to the claim.
For individual claimants, the national statistics do not change anything about a personal claim. However, they help explain the wider trends behind decisions people receive, and they are used by researchers, charities, and policymakers to track how the system is working.
When are the statistics released and where can I read them?
The publication is listed as an official statistics release on GOV.UK, covering the period to June 2026. Scheduled statistics announcements confirm the topic in advance, with the full data added on the publication date.
- Publisher: UK Government (Department for Work and Pensions).
- Coverage: Universal Credit claimants with a health condition or disability, to June 2026.
- Where to check: the GOV.UK statistics announcement page for Universal Credit Work Capability Assessment statistics.
You can find the announcement and, once available, the data at the official GOV.UK page: gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements/universal-credit-work-capability-assessment-statistics–3.
How does this affect my Universal Credit claim?
The statistics are a record of national data, so they do not directly alter what you receive. Your own payment and requirements depend on your individual Work Capability Assessment outcome, not on the published totals.
If you have a health condition or disability and think it affects your ability to work, you can report this through your Universal Credit account and provide medical evidence, such as a fit note. The DWP will then arrange an assessment where needed. Because the extra LCWRA amount and the reduced work requirements depend on that decision, it is worth keeping your account and evidence up to date.
For personal queries about your claim, use your online Universal Credit journal or the Universal Credit helpline rather than the statistics page, since the published data is for information and analysis only.
