Overview
- Since January 2022, 91% of claimants found to have limited capability for work were recorded with mental and behavioural disorders, according to DWP figures.
- At the end of 2025, 3.5 million people were on Universal Credit with a health condition or disability, including 440,000 in the limited capability for work group and 2.7 million in the more severe category.
- DWP says 74% of the year-on-year increase reflected transfers from Employment and Support Allowance to Universal Credit rather than new incidence.
- Separate published counts show 3,142,028 Universal Credit health claims in December 2025, up 48% year on year, with 1,344,500 linked solely to mental and behavioural disorders in November.
- The OBR forecasts sickness and disability benefits will rise toward about £110bn a year by the start of the next decade, prompting renewed calls for tighter assessments and reform.