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Universal Credit
Universal Credit aims to make the welfare system simpler by replacing 6 benefits and credits with a single monthly payment if you are on a low income or out of work. It includes support for the costs of housing, children and childcare, as well as support for disabled people and carers.
These benefits are: Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit.
Some aspects of Universal Credit data can also provide insight into changes in poverty experienced by residents within the county, in particular, those people who are in work and still experience poverty. People claiming UC can also be in work.
Interactive Maps
Sub-county data can be viewed using these web maps:
- UC People Summary Web Map (August 2025)
- UC Households Summary Web Map (August 2025)
Interactive Dashboard
The following dashboard summarises UC claimant data for County Durham. Key messages are contained in this dashboard and below it on this page.
Key Messages:
Data period: April 2021 to October 2025 (provisional) (In/Out of Work September 2025); (Households to August 2025)
Note: In/Out of work data is one month behind overall UC claimant figures.
NECA: North East Combined Authority
Claimants:
- Nearly one quarter of the working age population (16-64) were claiming Universal Credit in County Durham (23%) in October 2025 – this is an increase from 15.5% in February 2022 – (October 2025 – NECA: 22.4%; NE: 23.1%; Eng: 19.3%),
- The proportion of UC claimants aged 16 to 64 in County Durham, who were in work, has fallen recently from a high of 35.5% in February 2022 to 27.9% in September 2025. (September 2025 rates – NECA: 30.2%; NE: 30.1%; Eng: 33.2%),
- The proportion of UC claimants aged 16 to 64 in County Durham, who were NOT in work, has increased from 6.4.4% in February 2022 to 72.1% in September 2025. (September 2025 rates – NECA: 69.8%; NE: 69.9%; Eng: 66.8%),
Households:
- The number of households claiming UC increased from 43,500 to 64,400 between February 2022 and May 2025, an increase of 48%,
- The proportion of households claiming UC with dependent children in County Durham, decreased slightly from 43.9% to 42.8% in August 2025, however, this is an increase from 19,100 to 27,600 households (the decrease in the proportion is due to increased numbers of households claiming UC detailed above), (August 2025 proportion – NECA: 42.8%; NE: 43.2%; Eng: 46.2%),
- The proportion of lone parent households claiming UC with dependent children in County Durham, decreased slightly from 32.3% to 31.5% between February 2022 and August 2025, with the number of affected households remaining around 20,300 households, (August 2025 proportion – NECA: 31.4%; NE: 31.9%; Eng: 32.8%),
- The proportion of couple households claiming UC with dependent children in County Durham, has fallen slightly from 11.6% in February 2022 to 11.3% in August 2025. However, this is an increase from 5,100 to 7,300 households, (August 2025 proportion – NECA: 11.5%; NE: 11.3%; Eng: 13.5%).