Up to 2.6 million families missed out on Universal Credit or equivalent benefits they were entitled to in 2024/25, according to new government figures.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) estimates, published on 22 October 2026, suggest that up to £12.7 billion went unclaimed.
For families who were entitled to support but didn’t receive it, the average amount missed was around £4,700 a year.
That’s a significant amount of money, but it doesn’t mean there’s a £4,700 payment waiting for everyone.
The figures are estimates based on the benefits people could have claimed between April 2024 and March 2025.
And there’s something else worth knowing. You don’t necessarily need to be unemployed or have children to qualify for Universal Credit.
What the new DWP figures show
The DWP estimates that only 72% of families entitled to Universal Credit or equivalent benefits were receiving them in 2024/25.
That means more than one in four eligible families weren’t getting the support they could have claimed.
Overall, the government estimates that:
- Up to 2.6 million families missed out
- Up to £12.7 billion in support went unclaimed
- The average amount missed was around £4,700 per eligible non-claiming family over the year
- 87% of the total money available through these benefits was claimed.
The figures cover England, Scotland and Wales, not Northern Ireland.
They’re also estimates rather than an exact count of every household that missed out. The DWP is still developing how it measures Universal Credit take-up.
And when the DWP says ‘families’, it doesn’t just mean parents with children. Its definition includes single adults living alone, couples and those with dependent children.
People without children may be missing out too
One of the more interesting findings is the difference between families with children and those without.
The DWP found that 81% of eligible families with children were claiming Universal Credit or equivalent benefits.
For families without children, that fell to just 65%.
In other words, around one in three eligible families without children weren’t receiving the support they could have claimed.
The figures don’t tell us why each family didn’t claim, but they do show why it’s worth checking your entitlement even if you don’t have children.
And having a job doesn’t automatically rule you out either.
There’s no set limit on how many hours you can work and still receive Universal Credit. It depends on how much you earn and your circumstances.
Universal Credit can help people who are unemployed, working on a low income or unable to work because of a health condition.
What matters is your circumstances, including your income, savings, housing costs and whether you live with a partner.
You can check the current Universal Credit eligibility rules on GOV.UK.
Which benefits are included?
Although Universal Credit is the main benefit being discussed, the figures also cover several older benefits that it has been replacing.
These include:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Housing Benefit for working-age claimants
The DWP combines these benefits to measure how much financial support people were receiving during the move to Universal Credit.
Its estimates only include families who met the Universal Credit eligibility rules used in the research. Most people can no longer make new claims for the older benefits.
The same report also includes separate figures for Pension Credit and Housing Benefit for pensioners. These aren’t included in the £12.7 billion working-age estimate.
Does this mean you can claim £4,700?
Not necessarily.
The £4,700 is the estimated average amount missed by families who were entitled to support but didn’t claim it during 2024/25.
Some families could have been entitled to more, others less. Your circumstances might also be different now.
Most importantly, these figures don’t mean the DWP owes everyone who missed out £4,700 in back payments.
Universal Credit claims can normally only be backdated by up to one month, and only in certain circumstances.
That makes checking what you’re entitled to now much more useful than assuming you can claim money going back to 2024/25.
Skint Dad says:
What concerns me most about these figures is that people could be missing out on financial help they’re entitled to, without even realising it.
I think too many people assume they won’t qualify for benefits because they’re working or don’t have children.
The £4,700 figure certainly grabs your attention, but it’s important to be realistic. Not everyone will qualify, and those who do could receive very different amounts.
My advice is simple. If you haven’t checked your entitlement recently, take a few minutes to do it. It’s free, there’s no obligation to claim, and you might find you’re entitled to help that could make a real difference to your household budget.
How to check if you’re missing out on benefits
You can check what benefits you might qualify for using a free online calculator.
The government recommends several independent services, including:
- Turn2us Benefits Calculator – check what financial help you could be entitled to.
- entitledto Benefits Calculator – enter your circumstances to get an estimate of what you could claim.
- Policy in Practice Better Off Calculator – check your entitlement and how changes to your work or income could affect your benefits.
All three are free to use.
Before you begin, try to have your latest payslip, details of any benefits you already receive, savings, housing costs, childcare costs and Council Tax bill nearby.
If you live with a partner, you’ll also need their financial details.
The calculator will give you an estimate of what you could receive and explain how to claim.
It’s free to check, and using a calculator doesn’t mean you’re applying for benefits.
If the calculator suggests you could qualify for help, save the result and follow the instructions for that benefit. If you’re unsure about the result, you can ask a free local benefits adviser to check it.
You could also qualify for Council Tax Reduction, which may lower your bill. This is separate from the DWP figures, and you can find out how to apply through your local council.
You can also find the calculators through the official GOV.UK benefits calculator page.
If you’re under 18, you can’t use these calculators. They may also give inaccurate results if you’re a student or your immigration status affects your benefits. In these circumstances, speak to a free benefits adviser.
Already receiving benefits? Check before making a new claim
There’s one important thing to be careful about.
If you’re already receiving older benefits, making a new Universal Credit claim could stop those payments.
You might not be able to go back to your previous benefits, even if your Universal Credit application is unsuccessful.
So before applying, check whether moving would leave you better off.
You can get free support through Citizens Advice Help to Claim, which can help you work through a Universal Credit application.
When should you check?
It’s worth checking if you’ve recently changed jobs, had your working hours reduced, had a child, moved in with a partner, or experienced a change in your health or housing costs.
Even if you’ve checked before and weren’t entitled to anything, your circumstances or the rules may have changed.
If you have children, it’s also worth checking whether you’re claiming Child Benefit. You can read our report on the 2026 Child Benefit increase.
And if you’re pregnant or have young children, you might qualify for help towards food and milk through NHS Healthy Start, or Best Start Foods if you live in Scotland.
These are separate from the benefits included in the new DWP figures, but they’re worth checking too.
And if you’re struggling to cover household bills, our guide explains what help is available if you can’t pay your bills.
The new DWP figures show just how much financial support can go unclaimed.
If you haven’t checked your entitlement recently, a free benefits check is a good place to start.
