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Poverty and deprivation · 6 measures

People on Universal Credit

Part of Poverty and deprivation in Portsmouth

Each measure shows its latest figure, how it compares and its trend. The geography is named on every card.

Portsmouth

People on Universal Credit

30,222 people May 2026

Up 377,675% since January 2016 (8).

Official statistics

Trend, comparison and definition

What this answers: How many Portsmouth residents are on Universal Credit, whether in work or not?

People on Universal Credit

January 2016 to May 2026

Portsmouth · people

Reviewed figures: January 2016 to May 2026.

Shown on this chart: From January 2016 to May 2026, people on Universal Credit rose by 377,675% in Portsmouth and rose by 4,623.4% in England.

Both places compared over January 2016 to May 2026, using matching published dates.

Compared areas: Portsmouth; England.

Actual values

PortsmouthEngland

Each line joins consecutive published observations for that place. Missing dates remain gaps.

People on Universal Credit · people
PeriodPortsmouthSouthamptonChichesterWinchesterSouth EastEngland
2026-0530,222 people35,858 people11,201 people9,660 people919,359 people7,222,784 people
2026-0430,079 people35,730 people11,163 people9,571 people914,131 people7,185,826 people
2026-0329,990 people35,595 people11,166 people9,502 people910,505 people7,163,242 people
2026-0230,150 people35,933 people11,214 people9,595 people915,291 people7,208,346 people
2026-0130,139 people35,853 people11,182 people9,528 people911,735 people7,193,060 people
2025-1230,306 people35,879 people11,194 people9,543 people913,568 people7,211,821 people
2025-1130,182 people35,555 people11,105 people9,463 people908,362 people7,176,562 people
2025-1029,907 people35,254 people10,952 people9,343 people897,984 people7,096,445 people
2025-0929,563 people35,009 people10,802 people9,215 people888,640 people7,020,554 people
2025-0829,252 people34,772 people10,716 people9,138 people880,443 people6,956,038 people
2025-0728,928 people34,413 people10,655 people9,000 people869,613 people6,868,537 people
2025-0628,701 people34,162 people10,545 people8,908 people861,697 people6,802,471 people
2025-0528,154 people33,893 people10,412 people8,772 people850,355 people6,709,546 people
2025-0427,937 people33,695 people10,410 people8,687 people844,441 people6,664,863 people
2025-0327,716 people33,340 people10,256 people8,583 people835,397 people6,595,651 people
2025-0227,465 people33,052 people10,150 people8,502 people826,514 people6,531,148 people
2025-0126,977 people32,553 people9,989 people8,366 people812,941 people6,426,185 people
2024-1226,869 people32,500 people9,869 people8,378 people809,305 people6,395,147 people
2024-1126,555 people32,238 people9,772 people8,291 people801,143 people6,326,886 people
2024-1026,223 people32,048 people9,582 people8,217 people789,902 people6,228,914 people
2024-0925,915 people31,684 people9,493 people8,132 people780,789 people6,152,524 people
2024-0825,559 people31,294 people9,298 people8,048 people769,143 people6,054,259 people
2024-0725,267 people31,057 people9,217 people7,948 people761,647 people5,998,718 people
2024-0625,017 people30,994 people9,111 people7,832 people754,955 people5,947,601 people
2024-0524,957 people30,753 people9,005 people7,738 people746,352 people5,869,374 people
2024-0424,797 people30,589 people8,849 people7,696 people738,769 people5,798,931 people
2024-0324,631 people30,235 people8,786 people7,650 people731,178 people5,730,751 people
2024-0224,153 people29,741 people8,568 people7,485 people716,906 people5,611,034 people
2024-0123,788 people29,339 people8,499 people7,289 people708,141 people5,527,386 people
2023-1223,379 people29,247 people8,458 people7,217 people702,712 people5,486,231 people
2023-1122,905 people28,958 people8,367 people7,083 people693,322 people5,407,621 people
2023-1022,680 people28,911 people8,291 people6,967 people687,376 people5,355,620 people
2023-0922,428 people28,832 people8,187 people6,872 people680,484 people5,298,166 people
2023-0822,223 people28,777 people8,152 people6,861 people675,064 people5,248,776 people
2023-0722,149 people28,762 people8,102 people6,827 people671,549 people5,219,982 people
2023-0622,053 people28,716 people8,047 people6,793 people667,372 people5,180,353 people
2023-0521,843 people28,567 people7,958 people6,759 people663,599 people5,150,243 people
2023-0421,715 people28,429 people7,908 people6,702 people659,205 people5,120,188 people
2023-0321,653 people28,189 people7,800 people6,667 people654,733 people5,081,449 people
2023-0221,635 people28,146 people7,781 people6,618 people653,281 people5,066,210 people
2023-0121,517 people28,021 people7,708 people6,596 people649,117 people5,034,290 people
2022-1221,338 people27,905 people7,670 people6,538 people647,059 people5,016,624 people
2022-1121,200 people27,886 people7,631 people6,472 people644,496 people4,997,321 people
2022-1021,100 people27,768 people7,551 people6,422 people641,627 people4,976,129 people
2022-0920,928 people27,676 people7,525 people6,261 people636,165 people4,936,026 people
2022-0820,740 people27,552 people7,478 people6,210 people632,379 people4,916,061 people
2022-0720,535 people27,493 people7,353 people6,116 people627,380 people4,881,947 people
2022-0620,260 people27,223 people7,160 people5,948 people619,444 people4,832,099 people
2022-0520,277 people27,214 people7,112 people5,941 people617,106 people4,818,987 people
2022-0420,315 people27,212 people7,162 people5,931 people618,111 people4,823,910 people
2022-0320,239 people27,193 people7,187 people5,923 people617,517 people4,813,413 people
2022-0220,329 people27,411 people7,159 people5,948 people621,348 people4,837,335 people
2022-0120,459 people27,484 people7,195 people5,930 people623,754 people4,840,785 people
2021-1220,486 people27,665 people7,260 people5,950 people628,895 people4,880,981 people
2021-1120,593 people27,885 people7,343 people5,939 people635,467 people4,925,029 people
2021-1020,743 people28,061 people7,415 people6,025 people641,439 people4,962,794 people
2021-0920,845 people28,520 people7,483 people6,060 people647,540 people4,997,458 people
2021-0821,027 people28,759 people7,587 people6,141 people656,020 people5,054,610 people
2021-0721,223 people29,065 people7,645 people6,171 people661,910 people5,086,543 people
2021-0621,337 people29,392 people7,720 people6,236 people670,066 people5,127,924 people
2021-0521,528 people29,510 people7,775 people6,350 people677,613 people5,171,981 people
2021-0421,559 people29,728 people7,845 people6,472 people682,976 people5,188,548 people
2021-0321,608 people29,829 people7,865 people6,513 people685,547 people5,201,551 people
2021-0221,550 people29,736 people7,831 people6,456 people682,725 people5,180,054 people
2021-0121,275 people29,795 people7,776 people6,387 people677,541 people5,139,174 people
2020-1221,023 people29,805 people7,805 people6,347 people673,602 people5,120,419 people
2020-1120,659 people29,444 people7,712 people6,257 people662,509 people5,038,721 people
2020-1020,204 people28,850 people7,528 people6,109 people649,639 people4,933,680 people
2020-0920,233 people28,438 people7,566 people6,042 people647,113 people4,895,189 people
2020-0820,144 people28,144 people7,493 people5,951 people640,706 people4,829,857 people
2020-0719,948 people28,042 people7,413 people5,999 people636,248 people4,776,924 people
2020-0619,827 people27,641 people7,298 people5,961 people629,327 people4,710,609 people
2020-0519,398 people26,970 people7,125 people5,796 people612,044 people4,563,696 people
2020-0414,993 people22,240 people5,372 people4,552 people459,920 people3,615,605 people
2020-039,673 people16,489 people3,463 people2,847 people314,059 people2,592,395 people
2020-029,342 people16,059 people3,260 people2,748 people303,004 people2,508,100 people
2020-018,846 people15,611 people3,081 people2,563 people287,885 people2,385,907 people
2019-128,598 people15,557 people3,044 people2,506 people283,468 people2,348,745 people
2019-118,164 people15,181 people2,993 people2,408 people273,827 people2,281,872 people
2019-107,605 people14,809 people2,818 people2,215 people261,149 people2,188,206 people
2019-097,206 people14,511 people2,710 people2,163 people250,050 people2,107,552 people
2019-086,753 people14,181 people2,509 people2,069 people237,603 people2,015,367 people
2019-076,326 people13,979 people2,371 people1,968 people226,195 people1,928,537 people
2019-065,898 people13,759 people2,211 people1,907 people215,414 people1,845,896 people
2019-055,302 people13,332 people2,018 people1,743 people201,373 people1,738,662 people
2019-044,822 people12,982 people1,883 people1,656 people191,050 people1,664,215 people
2019-034,256 people12,651 people1,728 people1,537 people177,930 people1,555,457 people
2019-023,637 people12,372 people1,590 people1,399 people165,039 people1,459,893 people
2019-012,922 people12,658 people1,447 people1,287 people154,267 people1,386,290 people
2018-122,426 people12,537 people1,291 people1,150 people144,487 people1,315,735 people
2018-111,638 people12,086 people1,108 people991 people128,006 people1,190,427 people
2018-101,054 people11,692 people896 people867 people116,417 people1,100,926 people
2018-09803 people11,358 people722 people769 people106,057 people1,018,471 people
2018-08823 people11,056 people494 people601 people95,397 people931,136 people
2018-07832 people10,745 people306 people457 people87,042 people868,058 people
2018-06877 people10,390 people280 people416 people79,984 people821,181 people
2018-05938 people10,036 people287 people396 people74,737 people773,315 people
2018-04962 people9,691 people289 people382 people70,751 people735,621 people
2018-03979 people9,056 people310 people400 people65,590 people690,686 people
2018-021,018 people8,651 people320 people382 people61,688 people657,366 people
2018-011,073 people8,010 people332 people369 people56,860 people619,446 people
2017-121,077 people7,670 people326 people362 people54,115 people598,225 people
2017-111,056 people7,037 people326 people336 people49,883 people562,801 people
2017-101,045 people6,459 people324 people302 people46,749 people539,561 people
2017-091,010 people5,871 people327 people259 people44,179 people519,071 people
2017-08975 people5,121 people328 people225 people41,101 people494,810 people
2017-07990 people4,469 people335 people212 people38,517 people473,972 people
2017-06957 people3,584 people331 people210 people36,153 people453,960 people
2017-05943 people2,901 people329 people199 people34,340 people441,393 people
2017-04927 people2,398 people325 people199 people33,276 people433,380 people
2017-03877 people1,560 people318 people195 people30,901 people412,662 people
2017-02802 people1,333 people310 people194 people29,178 people392,439 people
2017-01776 people1,297 people304 people185 people27,724 people374,096 people
2016-12737 people1,324 people293 people186 people27,127 people362,479 people
2016-11692 people1,331 people295 people181 people26,406 people349,669 people
2016-10634 people1,324 people281 people179 people25,599 people335,968 people
2016-09519 people1,299 people270 people161 people23,740 people310,315 people
2016-08443 people1,255 people268 people150 people22,400 people292,409 people
2016-07359 people1,247 people262 people155 people20,796 people271,851 people
2016-06220 people1,188 people234 people135 people18,585 people246,141 people
2016-05130 people1,155 people222 people122 people16,935 people229,318 people
2016-0453 people1,138 people197 people102 people15,290 people213,567 people
2016-0315 people1,077 people166 people86 people13,111 people192,303 people
2016-025 people1,002 people149 people72 people11,103 people172,867 people
2016-018 people920 people99 people59 people8,712 people152,915 people

Definition: People on Universal Credit (claimants and their partners) living in the area, counted on the second Thursday of each month, from DWP Stat-Xplore (residence-based geography; South East and England are the dataset's own region and country totals). Series shown from January 2016.

  • Universal Credit replaced six older benefits (income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit) area by area. Rises mostly reflect people moving from those benefits, not only more people needing help.
  • DWP has been moving people still on the older benefits onto Universal Credit ("Move to Universal Credit"), which keeps pushing the count up regardless of local need.
  • The count is of people (claimants and partners) on the second Thursday of each month. Since May 2026 DWP updates Universal Credit statistics quarterly, three months in arrears, so the latest month here can be several months old; recent months can be revised.
  • The spring 2020 jump reflects the pandemic, when many people claimed for the first time.
  • Ward figures are for May 2026, people counted by DWP on its own ward geography (Stat-Xplore "National - Regional - LA - Ward"; response sha256 c8b1c2e35cf2). Ward counts are not divided by population because no matching ward population for the same year is published; compare wards with care as their sizes differ.

Series breaks: 2017-02: Southampton jobcentre moved to Universal Credit full service (all new claimant types) in February 2017. Before then only simpler claims (mostly single jobseekers) went onto Universal Credit there. 2018-09: Portsmouth and Cosham jobcentres moved to Universal Credit full service in September 2018. Before then only simpler claims went onto Universal Credit in Portsmouth, so earlier Portsmouth figures are not comparable with later ones. 2018-12: Full service reached every jobcentre in Great Britain by December 2018. South East and England figures before then mix areas at different stages.

Department for Work and Pensions: Stat-Xplore: People on Universal Credit ↗ · Monthly; latest month on Stat-Xplore at retrieval May 2026. Response SHA-256 prefixes by place: E06000044 bb6d23b5e3c4; E06000045 1185cf95221d; E07000225 28cea626450c; E07000094 77a106089bb5; E07000123 a84f63c0e3c1; E06000010 7be39c9979a2; E12000008 43867cabff64; E92000001 dceda6a4d5b4 (source.sha256 is Portsmouth's) · retrieved 2026-11-09

Portsmouth

People on Universal Credit, share of residents aged 16 to 64

21.3% December 2025

1.8 percentage points higher than England (19.5%).

Up 21 percentage points since January 2016 (0%).

Official statistics

Trend, comparison and definition

What this answers: What share of Portsmouth residents of working age are on Universal Credit?

People on Universal Credit, share of residents aged 16 to 64

January 2016 to December 2025

Portsmouth · %

Reviewed figures: January 2016 to December 2025.

Shown on this chart: From January 2016 to December 2025, people on Universal Credit, share of residents aged 16 to 64 rose by 21.3 percentage points in Portsmouth and rose by 19.1 percentage points in England.

Both places compared over January 2016 to December 2025, using matching published dates.

Compared areas: Portsmouth; England.

Actual values

PortsmouthEngland

Each line joins consecutive published observations for that place. Missing dates remain gaps.

People on Universal Credit, share of residents aged 16 to 64 · % of residents aged 16-64
PeriodPortsmouthSouthamptonChichesterWinchesterSouth EastEngland
2026-05––––––
2026-04––––––
2026-03––––––
2026-02––––––
2026-01––––––
2025-1221.3%19.9%15.2%11.5%15.3%19.5%
2025-1121.2%19.7%15.1%11.4%15.2%19.4%
2025-1021%19.6%14.9%11.2%15%19.1%
2025-0920.8%19.4%14.7%11.1%14.9%18.9%
2025-0820.6%19.3%14.6%11%14.7%18.8%
2025-0720.4%19.1%14.5%10.8%14.5%18.5%
2025-0620.2%19%14.3%10.7%14.4%18.4%
2025-0519.8%18.8%14.1%10.5%14.2%18.1%
2025-0419.7%18.7%14.1%10.4%14.1%18%
2025-0319.5%18.5%13.9%10.3%14%17.8%
2025-0219.3%18.4%13.8%10.2%13.8%17.6%
2025-0119%18.1%13.6%10.1%13.6%17.3%
2024-1218.7%18%13.4%10.1%13.6%17.3%
2024-1118.5%17.8%13.3%10%13.5%17.1%
2024-1018.3%17.7%13.1%10%13.3%16.9%
2024-0918.1%17.5%12.9%9.8%13.1%16.6%
2024-0817.8%17.3%12.7%9.7%12.9%16.4%
2024-0717.6%17.2%12.6%9.6%12.8%16.2%
2024-0617.5%17.1%12.4%9.5%12.7%16.1%
2024-0517.4%17%12.3%9.4%12.5%15.9%
2024-0417.3%16.9%12.1%9.3%12.4%15.7%
2024-0317.2%16.7%12%9.3%12.3%15.5%
2024-0216.9%16.5%11.7%9.1%12%15.2%
2024-0116.6%16.2%11.6%8.8%11.9%15%
2023-1216.2%16.4%11.6%8.9%11.9%15%
2023-1115.8%16.2%11.4%8.7%11.8%14.8%
2023-1015.7%16.2%11.3%8.6%11.7%14.6%
2023-0915.5%16.1%11.2%8.4%11.5%14.5%
2023-0815.4%16.1%11.2%8.4%11.4%14.4%
2023-0715.3%16.1%11.1%8.4%11.4%14.3%
2023-0615.2%16.1%11%8.4%11.3%14.2%
2023-0515.1%16%10.9%8.3%11.3%14.1%
2023-0415%15.9%10.8%8.2%11.2%14%
2023-0315%15.8%10.7%8.2%11.1%13.9%
2023-0214.9%15.7%10.6%8.1%11.1%13.9%
2023-0114.9%15.7%10.5%8.1%11%13.8%
2022-1215.1%16.1%10.6%8.2%11.1%13.9%
2022-1115%16.1%10.6%8.1%11.1%13.9%
2022-1015%16%10.4%8.1%11.1%13.8%
2022-0914.8%15.9%10.4%7.8%11%13.7%
2022-0814.7%15.9%10.3%7.8%10.9%13.7%
2022-0714.6%15.8%10.2%7.7%10.8%13.6%
2022-0614.4%15.7%9.9%7.5%10.7%13.4%
2022-0514.4%15.7%9.8%7.4%10.6%13.4%
2022-0414.4%15.7%9.9%7.4%10.6%13.4%
2022-0314.4%15.7%9.9%7.4%10.6%13.4%
2022-0214.4%15.8%9.9%7.5%10.7%13.4%
2022-0114.5%15.8%10%7.4%10.7%13.4%
2021-1214.7%16.4%10.2%7.6%10.9%13.7%
2021-1114.8%16.5%10.3%7.6%11%13.8%
2021-1014.9%16.6%10.4%7.7%11.1%13.9%
2021-0915%16.9%10.5%7.7%11.2%14%
2021-0815.1%17%10.6%7.8%11.4%14.2%
2021-0715.3%17.2%10.7%7.9%11.5%14.3%
2021-0615.4%17.4%10.8%8%11.6%14.4%
2021-0515.5%17.5%10.9%8.1%11.8%14.5%
2021-0415.5%17.6%11%8.3%11.9%14.6%
2021-0315.5%17.7%11%8.3%11.9%14.6%
2021-0215.5%17.6%11%8.2%11.9%14.5%
2021-0115.3%17.7%10.9%8.1%11.8%14.4%
2020-1214.9%17.6%11.1%8.2%11.8%14.4%
2020-1114.7%17.3%11%8.1%11.6%14.2%
2020-1014.3%17%10.7%7.9%11.4%13.9%
2020-0914.4%16.8%10.8%7.9%11.3%13.8%
2020-0814.3%16.6%10.7%7.7%11.2%13.6%
2020-0714.2%16.5%10.5%7.8%11.1%13.5%
2020-0614.1%16.3%10.4%7.7%11%13.3%
2020-0513.8%15.9%10.1%7.5%10.7%12.9%
2020-0410.6%13.1%7.6%5.9%8%10.2%
2020-036.9%9.7%4.9%3.7%5.5%7.3%
2020-026.6%9.5%4.6%3.6%5.3%7.1%
2020-016.3%9.2%4.4%3.3%5%6.7%
2019-126.1%9.1%4.3%3.3%5%6.6%
2019-115.7%8.9%4.3%3.2%4.8%6.4%
2019-105.4%8.7%4%2.9%4.6%6.2%
2019-095.1%8.5%3.9%2.9%4.4%5.9%
2019-084.8%8.3%3.6%2.7%4.2%5.7%
2019-074.5%8.2%3.4%2.6%4%5.4%
2019-064.2%8.1%3.1%2.5%3.8%5.2%
2019-053.7%7.8%2.9%2.3%3.5%4.9%
2019-043.4%7.6%2.7%2.2%3.4%4.7%
2019-033%7.4%2.5%2%3.1%4.4%
2019-022.6%7.3%2.3%1.8%2.9%4.1%
2019-012.1%7.4%2.1%1.7%2.7%3.9%
2018-121.7%7.3%1.8%1.5%2.5%3.7%
2018-111.1%7%1.6%1.3%2.3%3.4%
2018-100.7%6.8%1.3%1.1%2%3.1%
2018-090.6%6.6%1%1%1.9%2.9%
2018-080.6%6.4%0.7%0.8%1.7%2.6%
2018-070.6%6.2%0.4%0.6%1.5%2.5%
2018-060.6%6%0.4%0.6%1.4%2.3%
2018-050.7%5.8%0.4%0.5%1.3%2.2%
2018-040.7%5.6%0.4%0.5%1.2%2.1%
2018-030.7%5.3%0.4%0.5%1.2%2%
2018-020.7%5%0.5%0.5%1.1%1.9%
2018-010.8%4.6%0.5%0.5%1%1.8%
2017-120.8%4.4%0.5%0.5%1%1.7%
2017-110.7%4.1%0.5%0.4%0.9%1.6%
2017-100.7%3.7%0.5%0.4%0.8%1.5%
2017-090.7%3.4%0.5%0.3%0.8%1.5%
2017-080.7%3%0.5%0.3%0.7%1.4%
2017-070.7%2.6%0.5%0.3%0.7%1.3%
2017-060.7%2.1%0.5%0.3%0.6%1.3%
2017-050.7%1.7%0.5%0.3%0.6%1.3%
2017-040.7%1.4%0.5%0.3%0.6%1.2%
2017-030.6%0.9%0.5%0.3%0.5%1.2%
2017-020.6%0.8%0.4%0.3%0.5%1.1%
2017-010.5%0.8%0.4%0.2%0.5%1.1%
2016-120.5%0.8%0.4%0.2%0.5%1%
2016-110.5%0.8%0.4%0.2%0.5%1%
2016-100.4%0.8%0.4%0.2%0.5%1%
2016-090.4%0.8%0.4%0.2%0.4%0.9%
2016-080.3%0.7%0.4%0.2%0.4%0.8%
2016-070.3%0.7%0.4%0.2%0.4%0.8%
2016-060.2%0.7%0.3%0.2%0.3%0.7%
2016-050.1%0.7%0.3%0.2%0.3%0.7%
2016-040%0.7%0.3%0.1%0.3%0.6%
2016-030%0.6%0.2%0.1%0.2%0.5%
2016-020%0.6%0.2%0.1%0.2%0.5%
2016-010%0.5%0.1%0.1%0.2%0.4%

Definition: People on Universal Credit (claimants and their partners) living in the area, counted on the second Thursday of each month, from DWP Stat-Xplore (residence-based geography; South East and England are the dataset's own region and country totals). Divided by the ONS mid-year population aged 16-64 for the same calendar year and place (Nomis NM_2002_1, fetched in this script). Months after the latest published population year are left blank.

  • Universal Credit replaced six older benefits (income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit) area by area. Rises mostly reflect people moving from those benefits, not only more people needing help.
  • DWP has been moving people still on the older benefits onto Universal Credit ("Move to Universal Credit"), which keeps pushing the count up regardless of local need.
  • The count is of people (claimants and partners) on the second Thursday of each month. Since May 2026 DWP updates Universal Credit statistics quarterly, three months in arrears, so the latest month here can be several months old; recent months can be revised.
  • The spring 2020 jump reflects the pandemic, when many people claimed for the first time.
  • The rate divides by the ONS mid-year estimate of residents aged 16-64 for the same calendar year (fetched in this script). Universal Credit is for people of working age, so a few people outside 16-64 are counted on top; the rate is a guide, not an exact share.
  • Population source: Population estimates - local authority based by single year of age (NM_2002_1), Mid-year estimates 2013 to 2025 as held on Nomis at retrieval; sha256 dae531f074a8.

Series breaks: 2017-02: Southampton jobcentre moved to Universal Credit full service (all new claimant types) in February 2017. Before then only simpler claims (mostly single jobseekers) went onto Universal Credit there. 2018-09: Portsmouth and Cosham jobcentres moved to Universal Credit full service in September 2018. Before then only simpler claims went onto Universal Credit in Portsmouth, so earlier Portsmouth figures are not comparable with later ones. 2018-12: Full service reached every jobcentre in Great Britain by December 2018. South East and England figures before then mix areas at different stages.

Department for Work and Pensions: Stat-Xplore: People on Universal Credit ↗ · Monthly; latest month on Stat-Xplore at retrieval May 2026. Response SHA-256 prefixes by place: E06000044 bb6d23b5e3c4; E06000045 1185cf95221d; E07000225 28cea626450c; E07000094 77a106089bb5; E07000123 a84f63c0e3c1; E06000010 7be39c9979a2; E12000008 43867cabff64; E92000001 dceda6a4d5b4 (source.sha256 is Portsmouth's) · retrieved 2026-11-09

Portsmouth

People on Universal Credit who are not in work, share of residents aged 16 to 64

12.6% December 2025

0.8 percentage points higher than England (11.8%).

Up 13 percentage points since January 2016 (0%).

Official statistics

Trend, comparison and definition

What this answers: What share of Portsmouth residents aged 16 to 64 are on Universal Credit and not in paid work?

People on Universal Credit who are not in work, share of residents aged 16 to 64

January 2016 to December 2025

Portsmouth · %

Reviewed figures: January 2016 to December 2025.

Shown on this chart: From January 2016 to December 2025, people on Universal Credit who are not in work, share of residents aged 16 to 64 rose by 12.6 percentage points in Portsmouth and rose by 11.5 percentage points in England.

Both places compared over January 2016 to December 2025, using matching published dates.

Compared areas: Portsmouth; England.

Actual values

PortsmouthEngland

Each line joins consecutive published observations for that place. Missing dates remain gaps.

People on Universal Credit who are not in work, share of residents aged 16 to 64 · % of residents aged 16-64
PeriodPortsmouthSouthamptonChichesterWinchesterSouth EastEngland
2026-05––––––
2026-04––––––
2026-03––––––
2026-02––––––
2026-01––––––
2025-1212.6%11.8%8.2%5.9%8.7%11.8%
2025-1112.6%11.6%8.1%5.8%8.6%11.7%
2025-1012.4%11.5%7.9%5.8%8.4%11.6%
2025-0912.1%11.4%7.8%5.6%8.3%11.4%
2025-0811.9%11.2%7.6%5.5%8.2%11.2%
2025-0711.6%11%7.4%5.3%7.9%10.9%
2025-0611.4%10.8%7.3%5.2%7.8%10.7%
2025-0511.1%10.6%7.2%5.1%7.6%10.5%
2025-0410.9%10.5%7.1%5%7.5%10.3%
2025-0310.8%10.3%7%4.9%7.4%10.1%
2025-0210.6%10.3%7%4.9%7.3%10%
2025-0110.3%9.9%6.7%4.7%7.1%9.7%
2024-1210%9.7%6.5%4.7%7%9.6%
2024-119.9%9.6%6.4%4.7%6.9%9.4%
2024-109.7%9.6%6.2%4.7%6.7%9.2%
2024-099.5%9.4%6.1%4.6%6.6%9.1%
2024-089.4%9.2%5.9%4.5%6.5%8.9%
2024-079.2%9.2%5.8%4.4%6.4%8.8%
2024-069.1%9.1%5.8%4.3%6.3%8.7%
2024-059.1%9.1%5.8%4.2%6.3%8.6%
2024-049.1%9%5.7%4.2%6.2%8.5%
2024-039%9%5.8%4.2%6.2%8.5%
2024-028.9%8.9%5.7%4.1%6.1%8.3%
2024-018.8%8.7%5.6%4.1%6%8.2%
2023-128.4%8.7%5.5%4.1%6%8.1%
2023-118.2%8.6%5.4%4%5.9%8%
2023-108.2%8.6%5.3%4%5.8%7.9%
2023-098.1%8.6%5.3%3.9%5.8%7.9%
2023-088%8.5%5.1%3.8%5.7%7.8%
2023-078%8.5%5%3.8%5.7%7.7%
2023-067.9%8.4%5.1%3.8%5.6%7.7%
2023-057.9%8.4%5.1%3.8%5.6%7.7%
2023-047.8%8.4%5%3.8%5.6%7.6%
2023-037.8%8.3%5%3.8%5.5%7.5%
2023-027.8%8.3%5%3.7%5.5%7.5%
2023-017.7%8.2%4.9%3.7%5.5%7.4%
2022-127.7%8.2%4.9%3.7%5.4%7.3%
2022-117.6%8.2%4.9%3.7%5.4%7.3%
2022-107.6%8.1%4.7%3.6%5.3%7.2%
2022-097.4%7.9%4.6%3.5%5.2%7.1%
2022-087.3%7.9%4.6%3.5%5.2%7%
2022-077.2%7.8%4.5%3.4%5.1%7%
2022-067.1%7.8%4.3%3.3%5%6.8%
2022-057.1%7.8%4.3%3.3%5%6.8%
2022-047.1%7.8%4.3%3.3%5%6.8%
2022-037%7.7%4.4%3.3%5%6.8%
2022-027.1%7.8%4.4%3.3%5%6.9%
2022-017.1%7.8%4.5%3.3%5%6.9%
2021-127%7.9%4.4%3.3%5%6.8%
2021-117.1%8%4.4%3.3%5.1%6.9%
2021-107.1%8.1%4.5%3.4%5.1%7%
2021-097.2%8.2%4.6%3.4%5.2%7.1%
2021-087.3%8.4%4.5%3.4%5.3%7.2%
2021-077.3%8.5%4.5%3.4%5.3%7.2%
2021-067.4%8.6%4.6%3.5%5.4%7.3%
2021-057.6%8.8%4.7%3.6%5.6%7.5%
2021-047.8%9.1%5%3.7%5.7%7.6%
2021-037.8%9.1%5.1%3.7%5.8%7.7%
2021-027.8%9.1%5%3.8%5.7%7.6%
2021-017.6%8.9%4.9%3.7%5.6%7.5%
2020-127.3%8.6%4.8%3.7%5.5%7.3%
2020-117.2%8.6%4.7%3.6%5.4%7.2%
2020-107%8.5%4.6%3.5%5.3%7%
2020-097.1%8.4%4.6%3.6%5.3%7%
2020-087%8.3%4.5%3.5%5.2%6.9%
2020-076.9%8.2%4.6%3.5%5.2%6.9%
2020-066.9%8.2%4.6%3.5%5.1%6.8%
2020-056.8%8.1%4.5%3.4%5%6.7%
2020-045.4%6.7%3.5%2.7%3.9%5.4%
2020-033.9%5.6%2.6%2%3.1%4.4%
2020-023.8%5.4%2.5%1.9%3%4.2%
2020-013.6%5.3%2.4%1.7%2.8%4%
2019-123.5%5.1%2.3%1.7%2.7%3.9%
2019-113.3%5.1%2.3%1.6%2.7%3.8%
2019-103.1%5%2.1%1.5%2.5%3.7%
2019-092.9%4.9%2%1.5%2.5%3.6%
2019-082.7%4.8%1.9%1.4%2.3%3.4%
2019-072.6%4.7%1.8%1.3%2.2%3.3%
2019-062.4%4.6%1.7%1.3%2.1%3.2%
2019-052.2%4.5%1.6%1.2%2%3%
2019-042%4.4%1.5%1.2%1.9%2.9%
2019-031.8%4.3%1.4%1.1%1.8%2.7%
2019-021.5%4.2%1.3%1%1.7%2.5%
2019-011.2%4.1%1.1%0.9%1.5%2.3%
2018-121%3.9%1%0.8%1.4%2.1%
2018-110.7%3.8%0.9%0.7%1.2%1.9%
2018-100.4%3.7%0.7%0.6%1.1%1.8%
2018-090.3%3.6%0.6%0.5%1%1.7%
2018-080.3%3.5%0.4%0.4%1%1.6%
2018-070.3%3.4%0.2%0.3%0.9%1.4%
2018-060.4%3.3%0.2%0.3%0.8%1.4%
2018-050.4%3.2%0.2%0.3%0.8%1.3%
2018-040.4%3.1%0.2%0.3%0.7%1.2%
2018-030.4%2.9%0.2%0.3%0.7%1.2%
2018-020.4%2.8%0.3%0.3%0.6%1.1%
2018-010.4%2.6%0.3%0.3%0.6%1%
2017-120.4%2.5%0.3%0.2%0.5%1%
2017-110.4%2.3%0.3%0.3%0.5%0.9%
2017-100.4%2.1%0.2%0.2%0.5%0.9%
2017-090.4%2%0.3%0.2%0.4%0.9%
2017-080.4%1.7%0.3%0.2%0.4%0.8%
2017-070.4%1.5%0.2%0.1%0.4%0.8%
2017-060.4%1.2%0.3%0.1%0.4%0.8%
2017-050.4%1%0.3%0.1%0.4%0.8%
2017-040.4%0.9%0.3%0.1%0.3%0.8%
2017-030.4%0.5%0.3%0.1%0.3%0.7%
2017-020.3%0.4%0.3%0.1%0.3%0.7%
2017-010.3%0.4%0.2%0.1%0.3%0.6%
2016-120.3%0.4%0.2%0.1%0.3%0.6%
2016-110.3%0.4%0.2%0.1%0.3%0.6%
2016-100.3%0.4%0.2%0.1%0.3%0.6%
2016-090.2%0.4%0.2%0.1%0.2%0.5%
2016-080.2%0.4%0.2%0.1%0.2%0.5%
2016-070.2%0.4%0.2%0.1%0.2%0.5%
2016-060.1%0.4%0.2%0.1%0.2%0.4%
2016-050.1%0.4%0.2%0.1%0.2%0.4%
2016-040%0.4%0.2%0.1%0.2%0.4%
2016-030%0.4%0.2%0.1%0.1%0.3%
2016-020%0.3%0.2%0.1%0.1%0.3%
2016-010%0.3%0.1%0%0.1%0.3%

Definition: People on Universal Credit whom DWP's employment indicator shows with no PAYE earnings and no self-employment in the assessment period (Stat-Xplore "Employment Indicator Band"), divided by the ONS mid-year population aged 16-64 for the same calendar year. People whose status is "not available" are in neither line, so the two lines can add to slightly less than the total rate.

  • Universal Credit replaced six older benefits (income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit) area by area. Rises mostly reflect people moving from those benefits, not only more people needing help.
  • DWP has been moving people still on the older benefits onto Universal Credit ("Move to Universal Credit"), which keeps pushing the count up regardless of local need.
  • The employment indicator comes from HMRC PAYE records and self-employment declarations. Someone in work may still be shown as not in work if their pay was not reported in that period.
  • DWP fills the indicator a month late, so the latest month is blank.
  • Being in work on Universal Credit usually means low earnings or high costs (rent, children); it is not a sign the person is unemployed.
  • The rate divides by the ONS mid-year estimate of residents aged 16-64 for the same calendar year (fetched in this script). Universal Credit is for people of working age, so a few people outside 16-64 are counted on top; the rate is a guide, not an exact share.
  • Population source: Population estimates - local authority based by single year of age (NM_2002_1), Mid-year estimates 2013 to 2025 as held on Nomis at retrieval; sha256 dae531f074a8.

Series breaks: 2017-02: Southampton jobcentre moved to Universal Credit full service (all new claimant types) in February 2017. Before then only simpler claims (mostly single jobseekers) went onto Universal Credit there. 2018-09: Portsmouth and Cosham jobcentres moved to Universal Credit full service in September 2018. Before then only simpler claims went onto Universal Credit in Portsmouth, so earlier Portsmouth figures are not comparable with later ones. 2018-12: Full service reached every jobcentre in Great Britain by December 2018. South East and England figures before then mix areas at different stages.

Department for Work and Pensions: Stat-Xplore: People on Universal Credit ↗ · Monthly; latest month on Stat-Xplore at retrieval May 2026. Response SHA-256 prefixes by place: E06000044 bb6d23b5e3c4; E06000045 1185cf95221d; E07000225 28cea626450c; E07000094 77a106089bb5; E07000123 a84f63c0e3c1; E06000010 7be39c9979a2; E12000008 43867cabff64; E92000001 dceda6a4d5b4 (source.sha256 is Portsmouth's) · retrieved 2026-11-09

Portsmouth

People on Universal Credit who are in work, share of residents aged 16 to 64

8.7% December 2025

1.1 percentage points higher than England (7.6%).

Up 8.7 percentage points since January 2016 (0%).

  • 25,970 households on Universal Credit (May 2026)
  • 10,584 households with children on Universal Credit (May 2026)

Official statistics

The numbers over time (2)

Households on Universal Credit

Households on Universal Credit

January 2016 to May 2026

Portsmouth · households

Reviewed figures: January 2016 to May 2026.

Shown on this chart: From January 2016 to May 2026, households on Universal Credit rose by 324,525% in Portsmouth and rose by 4,103% in England.

Both places compared over January 2016 to May 2026, using matching published dates.

Compared areas: Portsmouth; England.

Actual values

PortsmouthEngland

Each line joins consecutive published observations for that place. Missing dates remain gaps.

Households on Universal Credit · households
PeriodPortsmouthSouthamptonChichesterWinchesterSouth EastEngland
2026-0525,970 households30,620 households9,431 households8,134 households782,975 households6,165,936 households
2026-0425,921 households30,693 households9,449 households8,135 households782,780 households6,166,020 households
2026-0325,974 households30,713 households9,470 households8,116 households782,142 households6,165,368 households
2026-0226,026 households30,801 households9,463 households8,121 households782,349 households6,172,749 households
2026-0125,916 households30,779 households9,448 households8,050 households779,351 households6,157,997 households
2025-1226,024 households30,782 households9,465 households8,067 households779,942 households6,165,420 households
2025-1125,945 households30,529 households9,400 households8,004 households775,583 households6,134,485 households
2025-1025,766 households30,367 households9,289 households7,923 households768,220 households6,076,669 households
2025-0925,440 households30,251 households9,166 households7,816 households759,969 households6,010,413 households
2025-0825,087 households29,912 households9,060 households7,710 households749,374 households5,928,959 households
2025-0724,750 households29,455 households8,974 households7,607 households738,123 households5,842,246 households
2025-0624,480 households29,171 households8,866 households7,501 households729,268 households5,772,191 households
2025-0524,101 households28,854 households8,733 households7,337 households719,662 households5,691,886 households
2025-0423,836 households28,625 households8,721 households7,255 households713,153 households5,639,851 households
2025-0323,540 households28,299 households8,620 households7,208 households705,649 households5,581,016 households
2025-0223,351 households28,166 households8,549 households7,085 households699,371 households5,534,831 households
2025-0122,931 households27,703 households8,384 households6,977 households687,351 households5,442,060 households
2024-1222,707 households27,530 households8,268 households6,963 households681,787 households5,400,227 households
2024-1122,501 households27,359 households8,167 households6,917 households674,927 households5,347,115 households
2024-1022,201 households27,162 households8,007 households6,833 households667,116 households5,279,971 households
2024-0921,957 households27,006 households7,923 households6,798 households661,208 households5,231,082 households
2024-0821,737 households26,722 households7,806 households6,735 households651,642 households5,148,553 households
2024-0721,423 households26,451 households7,690 households6,625 households642,649 households5,081,839 households
2024-0621,107 households26,195 households7,563 households6,474 households634,920 households5,026,872 households
2024-0521,051 households26,001 households7,490 households6,443 households629,012 households4,980,836 households
2024-0420,981 households25,903 households7,355 households6,401 households623,050 households4,926,648 households
2024-0320,907 households25,772 households7,265 households6,380 households618,911 households4,883,498 households
2024-0220,728 households25,550 households7,169 households6,259 households609,615 households4,820,220 households
2024-0120,352 households25,206 households7,082 households6,170 households601,401 households4,749,040 households
2023-1220,141 households25,085 households7,041 households6,075 households597,043 households4,714,777 households
2023-1119,716 households24,872 households6,975 households5,952 households590,071 households4,661,195 households
2023-1019,458 households24,681 households6,897 households5,832 households584,130 households4,610,089 households
2023-0919,203 households24,622 households6,812 households5,748 households577,394 households4,556,774 households
2023-0819,035 households24,555 households6,773 households5,734 households571,872 households4,505,058 households
2023-0718,952 households24,449 households6,725 households5,707 households567,786 households4,470,391 households
2023-0618,821 households24,412 households6,685 households5,692 households563,724 households4,432,876 households
2023-0518,686 households24,255 households6,618 households5,667 households560,619 households4,408,403 households
2023-0418,593 households24,218 households6,579 households5,621 households558,128 households4,388,461 households
2023-0318,498 households24,078 households6,491 households5,601 households554,186 households4,355,989 households
2023-0218,443 households23,972 households6,460 households5,546 households552,257 households4,338,201 households
2023-0118,359 households23,888 households6,418 households5,524 households548,017 households4,304,639 households
2022-1218,244 households23,821 households6,379 households5,481 households546,337 households4,287,898 households
2022-1118,124 households23,762 households6,336 households5,431 households543,125 households4,262,155 households
2022-1018,013 households23,658 households6,255 households5,395 households539,943 households4,240,744 households
2022-0917,870 households23,603 households6,238 households5,259 households536,160 households4,216,720 households
2022-0817,689 households23,462 households6,167 households5,203 households531,638 households4,186,267 households
2022-0717,520 households23,393 households6,069 households5,146 households527,744 households4,157,494 households
2022-0617,267 households23,135 households5,940 households5,033 households521,060 households4,112,434 households
2022-0517,180 households23,036 households5,827 households4,974 households516,807 households4,088,787 households
2022-0417,192 households23,024 households5,822 households4,923 households516,187 households4,086,797 households
2022-0317,175 households23,005 households5,828 households4,930 households516,875 households4,089,312 households
2022-0217,277 households23,226 households5,841 households4,952 households520,702 households4,108,572 households
2022-0117,359 households23,315 households5,883 households4,960 households522,916 households4,111,726 households
2021-1217,463 households23,434 households5,946 households4,963 households526,783 households4,138,291 households
2021-1117,442 households23,583 households6,017 households4,957 households529,825 households4,165,063 households
2021-1017,585 households23,793 households6,053 households4,996 households534,738 households4,198,149 households
2021-0917,641 households24,138 households6,098 households5,061 households540,083 households4,232,534 households
2021-0817,753 households24,258 households6,152 households5,102 households544,632 households4,261,248 households
2021-0717,821 households24,508 households6,248 households5,137 households549,280 households4,287,099 households
2021-0617,855 households24,642 households6,269 households5,160 households552,524 households4,302,062 households
2021-0517,977 households24,649 households6,274 households5,231 households557,307 households4,331,020 households
2021-0418,054 households24,846 households6,338 households5,349 households563,379 households4,368,544 households
2021-0318,139 households25,020 households6,369 households5,371 households566,094 households4,382,397 households
2021-0218,071 households25,018 households6,389 households5,379 households567,018 households4,385,605 households
2021-0117,920 households24,875 households6,353 households5,334 households562,697 households4,348,726 households
2020-1217,595 households24,735 households6,287 households5,229 households554,212 households4,286,287 households
2020-1117,364 households24,597 households6,284 households5,197 households549,040 households4,245,893 households
2020-1016,900 households24,020 households6,069 households5,063 households533,848 households4,133,507 households
2020-0916,765 households23,598 households6,000 households4,972 households525,330 households4,068,722 households
2020-0816,457 households23,146 households5,901 households4,857 households515,050 households3,983,614 households
2020-0716,059 households22,723 households5,743 households4,748 households501,679 households3,875,282 households
2020-0615,811 households22,231 households5,619 households4,685 households491,897 households3,788,466 households
2020-0515,457 households21,727 households5,441 households4,536 households478,605 households3,671,199 households
2020-0413,376 households19,523 households4,816 households3,908 households417,157 households3,241,812 households
2020-038,726 households14,622 households3,049 households2,528 households278,993 households2,318,672 households
2020-028,266 households14,086 households2,852 households2,403 households264,883 households2,210,829 households
2020-017,812 households13,615 households2,679 households2,246 households251,567 households2,106,719 households
2019-127,590 households13,473 households2,611 households2,183 households246,663 households2,063,640 households
2019-117,289 households13,238 households2,566 households2,121 households239,352 households2,010,984 households
2019-106,861 households12,911 households2,445 households1,984 households229,289 households1,937,616 households
2019-096,526 households12,678 households2,357 households1,915 households219,913 households1,870,941 households
2019-086,114 households12,381 households2,192 households1,816 households208,496 households1,786,967 households
2019-075,751 households12,179 households2,056 households1,742 households199,482 households1,716,838 households
2019-065,351 households12,000 households1,942 households1,649 households190,322 households1,645,572 households
2019-054,884 households11,718 households1,795 households1,540 households179,114 households1,559,796 households
2019-044,524 households11,539 households1,664 households1,449 households170,863 households1,497,741 households
2019-034,069 households11,240 households1,544 households1,332 households160,402 households1,413,885 households
2019-023,503 households10,925 households1,447 households1,244 households149,602 households1,334,150 households
2019-012,799 households11,072 households1,334 households1,132 households139,369 households1,258,629 households
2018-122,409 households10,889 households1,196 households1,043 households130,114 households1,188,679 households
2018-111,756 households10,596 households1,024 households912 households116,393 households1,082,584 households
2018-101,177 households10,270 households875 households767 households106,294 households1,005,118 households
2018-09825 households9,980 households712 households687 households97,216 households934,616 households
2018-08833 households9,608 households537 households565 households87,838 households856,064 households
2018-07854 households9,284 households345 households428 households80,251 households796,194 households
2018-06902 households9,030 households285 households386 households74,082 households752,644 households
2018-05949 households8,735 households298 households373 households69,108 households714,476 households
2018-04979 households8,490 households303 households357 households66,319 households687,015 households
2018-031,010 households8,016 households316 households371 households62,873 households654,147 households
2018-021,067 households7,537 households329 households357 households59,270 households622,557 households
2018-011,096 households6,996 households336 households350 households54,975 households589,513 households
2017-121,107 households6,697 households339 households339 households52,202 households568,376 households
2017-111,093 households6,177 households337 households322 households48,380 households537,104 households
2017-101,067 households5,712 households338 households292 households45,489 households514,527 households
2017-091,036 households5,186 households331 households262 households42,853 households494,260 households
2017-081,002 households4,597 households328 households238 households40,060 households471,492 households
2017-07977 households4,038 households327 households215 households37,502 households450,553 households
2017-06957 households3,416 households337 households213 households35,794 households434,284 households
2017-05941 households2,903 households338 households204 households34,366 households423,444 households
2017-04937 households2,442 households331 households198 households33,266 households415,251 households
2017-03865 households1,660 households321 households196 households31,165 households398,215 households
2017-02834 households1,358 households329 households202 households29,813 households384,704 households
2017-01771 households1,305 households307 households192 households27,796 households362,655 households
2016-12724 households1,323 households291 households188 households26,925 households350,620 households
2016-11674 households1,320 households297 households179 households26,140 households338,195 households
2016-10617 households1,304 households276 households177 households25,240 households324,472 households
2016-09483 households1,287 households266 households164 households23,344 households300,670 households
2016-08414 households1,228 households264 households152 households21,901 households281,889 households
2016-07321 households1,201 households252 households146 households20,042 households259,226 households
2016-06202 households1,163 households230 households126 households17,839 households234,550 households
2016-05130 households1,120 households209 households116 households16,364 households218,495 households
2016-0449 households1,091 households184 households95 households14,618 households202,913 households
2016-0316 households1,044 households158 households83 households12,770 households184,677 households
2016-028 households981 households141 households79 households10,986 households166,989 households
2016-018 households885 households99 households59 households8,706 households146,704 households

Households (a single claimant or a couple, with any children) with a Universal Credit award, from DWP Stat-Xplore, residence-based. DWP publishes these monthly; shown from January 2016.

Households with children on Universal Credit

Households with children on Universal Credit

January 2016 to May 2026

Portsmouth · households

Reviewed figures: January 2016 to May 2026.

Shown on this chart: From January 2016 to May 2026, households with children on Universal Credit went from 0 households to 10,584 households in Portsmouth and rose by 18,105.7% in England.

Both places compared over January 2016 to May 2026, using matching published dates. Percentage growth cannot be calculated from a zero or negative starting value.

Compared areas: Portsmouth; England.

Actual values

PortsmouthEngland

Each line joins consecutive published observations for that place. Missing dates remain gaps.

Households with children on Universal Credit · households
PeriodPortsmouthSouthamptonChichesterWinchesterSouth EastEngland
2026-0510,584 households12,308 households4,201 households3,649 households337,537 households2,562,820 households
2026-0410,564 households12,319 households4,196 households3,648 households337,169 households2,562,179 households
2026-0310,592 households12,341 households4,194 households3,636 households336,833 households2,560,860 households
2026-0210,615 households12,388 households4,197 households3,635 households336,607 households2,560,810 households
2026-0110,611 households12,402 households4,201 households3,614 households336,163 households2,558,388 households
2025-1210,654 households12,420 households4,203 households3,612 households336,243 households2,559,996 households
2025-1110,641 households12,402 households4,198 households3,594 households335,397 households2,555,146 households
2025-1010,651 households12,395 households4,175 households3,572 households334,935 households2,551,292 households
2025-0910,628 households12,360 households4,156 households3,571 households334,192 households2,546,898 households
2025-0810,687 households12,430 households4,182 households3,592 households336,419 households2,566,072 households
2025-0710,793 households12,563 households4,240 households3,613 households340,192 households2,597,601 households
2025-0610,904 households12,675 households4,253 households3,618 households342,343 households2,615,630 households
2025-0510,899 households12,725 households4,240 households3,595 households342,150 households2,615,755 households
2025-0410,919 households12,759 households4,254 households3,587 households342,091 households2,614,813 households
2025-0310,892 households12,734 households4,233 households3,564 households341,290 households2,610,911 households
2025-0210,875 households12,723 households4,213 households3,526 households340,543 households2,606,578 households
2025-0110,782 households12,675 households4,170 households3,498 households337,555 households2,581,167 households
2024-1210,720 households12,605 households4,124 households3,495 households335,737 households2,565,666 households
2024-1110,651 households12,547 households4,097 households3,479 households333,280 households2,544,398 households
2024-1010,504 households12,420 households4,030 households3,440 households329,057 households2,506,322 households
2024-0910,332 households12,322 households4,000 households3,401 households325,366 households2,476,867 households
2024-0810,355 households12,291 households3,997 households3,426 households325,318 households2,472,740 households
2024-0710,214 households12,146 households3,930 households3,376 households321,106 households2,444,931 households
2024-0610,055 households11,955 households3,852 households3,310 households316,063 households2,410,320 households
2024-059,961 households11,830 households3,779 households3,282 households311,235 households2,373,056 households
2024-049,864 households11,688 households3,657 households3,258 households305,675 households2,323,721 households
2024-039,797 households11,604 households3,581 households3,244 households302,176 households2,287,074 households
2024-029,614 households11,452 households3,501 households3,175 households294,549 households2,234,678 households
2024-019,367 households11,244 households3,464 households3,105 households289,376 households2,187,150 households
2023-129,161 households11,125 households3,439 households3,037 households285,981 households2,158,558 households
2023-118,903 households10,944 households3,402 households2,939 households282,144 households2,129,447 households
2023-108,766 households10,823 households3,356 households2,887 households278,720 households2,099,251 households
2023-098,621 households10,742 households3,310 households2,823 households274,192 households2,063,593 households
2023-088,631 households10,853 households3,338 households2,843 households275,141 households2,064,488 households
2023-078,685 households10,956 households3,351 households2,870 households275,941 households2,068,450 households
2023-068,637 households10,930 households3,324 households2,855 households273,748 households2,048,940 households
2023-058,546 households10,875 households3,293 households2,814 households271,785 households2,035,151 households
2023-048,521 households10,827 households3,261 households2,783 households269,847 households2,020,606 households
2023-038,459 households10,775 households3,224 households2,759 households267,624 households2,003,494 households
2023-028,418 households10,716 households3,196 households2,746 households265,788 households1,992,140 households
2023-018,364 households10,668 households3,162 households2,724 households263,576 households1,975,807 households
2022-128,290 households10,591 households3,149 households2,688 households261,757 households1,961,663 households
2022-118,213 households10,558 households3,135 households2,654 households259,742 households1,947,695 households
2022-108,128 households10,472 households3,094 households2,624 households257,541 households1,930,530 households
2022-098,048 households10,399 households3,053 households2,567 households254,241 households1,906,124 households
2022-088,057 households10,440 households3,041 households2,544 households254,351 households1,909,368 households
2022-078,010 households10,424 households3,020 households2,515 households253,120 households1,901,577 households
2022-067,888 households10,316 households2,941 households2,443 households248,748 households1,873,344 households
2022-057,777 households10,258 households2,858 households2,377 households244,887 households1,850,355 households
2022-047,705 households10,154 households2,804 households2,328 households242,100 households1,830,750 households
2022-037,608 households10,026 households2,767 households2,294 households239,305 households1,810,079 households
2022-027,538 households9,997 households2,738 households2,279 households238,089 households1,799,100 households
2022-017,500 households9,915 households2,715 households2,253 households236,193 households1,782,564 households
2021-127,421 households9,869 households2,696 households2,223 households234,628 households1,770,249 households
2021-117,340 households9,818 households2,694 households2,192 households233,131 households1,759,260 households
2021-107,283 households9,765 households2,669 households2,184 households231,821 households1,748,143 households
2021-097,170 households9,695 households2,618 households2,159 households229,853 households1,732,330 households
2021-087,137 households9,742 households2,617 households2,129 households230,352 households1,735,573 households
2021-077,055 households9,734 households2,606 households2,116 households229,404 households1,726,708 households
2021-066,970 households9,652 households2,578 households2,097 households227,435 households1,711,063 households
2021-056,898 households9,608 households2,541 households2,076 households225,998 households1,699,406 households
2021-046,810 households9,567 households2,516 households2,061 households224,186 households1,683,529 households
2021-036,741 households9,523 households2,507 households2,048 households222,680 households1,671,049 households
2021-026,689 households9,447 households2,484 households2,019 households221,111 households1,657,580 households
2021-016,590 households9,372 households2,443 households2,010 households218,169 households1,634,279 households
2020-126,468 households9,230 households2,438 households1,978 households214,375 households1,605,328 households
2020-116,363 households9,132 households2,422 households1,946 households211,589 households1,585,507 households
2020-106,150 households8,976 households2,345 households1,873 households205,867 households1,542,568 households
2020-096,043 households8,817 households2,294 households1,821 households201,651 households1,510,504 households
2020-085,919 households8,730 households2,249 households1,778 households199,130 households1,491,573 households
2020-075,798 households8,668 households2,201 households1,755 households195,856 households1,462,962 households
2020-065,710 households8,536 households2,175 households1,754 households193,138 households1,437,739 households
2020-055,642 households8,418 households2,138 households1,714 households189,910 households1,409,603 households
2020-045,131 households7,944 households1,988 households1,559 households173,713 households1,301,386 households
2020-033,886 households6,737 households1,513 households1,186 households133,458 households1,055,140 households
2020-023,728 households6,535 households1,429 households1,138 households127,838 households1,014,131 households
2020-013,531 households6,373 households1,336 households1,074 households121,396 households966,798 households
2019-123,418 households6,272 households1,282 households1,031 households118,193 households942,770 households
2019-113,265 households6,128 households1,235 households997 households113,979 households913,200 households
2019-103,017 households5,950 households1,176 households932 households107,778 households868,066 households
2019-092,815 households5,783 households1,116 households907 households102,062 households827,516 households
2019-082,582 households5,655 households1,025 households858 households95,874 households783,766 households
2019-072,390 households5,576 households949 households806 households90,818 households745,881 households
2019-062,178 households5,462 households867 households749 households85,219 households704,533 households
2019-051,904 households5,289 households787 households682 households78,262 households652,474 households
2019-041,700 households5,140 households713 households625 households73,007 households614,135 households
2019-031,467 households4,980 households647 households576 households67,231 households569,427 households
2019-021,203 households4,771 households583 households512 households61,004 households523,355 households
2019-01881 households4,680 households518 households457 households54,645 households477,519 households
2018-12728 households4,616 households466 households418 households50,523 households447,527 households
2018-11468 households4,461 households379 households354 households44,634 households404,080 households
2018-10215 households4,309 households307 households296 households40,027 households370,064 households
2018-0954 households4,159 households234 households242 households35,549 households337,062 households
2018-0842 households3,987 households145 households190 households30,854 households301,447 households
2018-0742 households3,847 households59 households123 households26,961 households273,150 households
2018-0639 households3,745 households26 households100 households23,513 households249,045 households
2018-0539 households3,563 households25 households89 households20,367 households224,812 households
2018-0435 households3,425 households18 households83 households18,498 households207,582 households
2018-0326 households3,242 households12 households79 households16,177 households186,841 households
2018-0222 households3,042 households13 households70 households14,127 households169,412 households
2018-0124 households2,817 households11 households70 households11,885 households151,954 households
2017-1223 households2,672 households11 households54 households10,422 households140,157 households
2017-1120 households2,431 households11 households51 households8,834 households126,190 households
2017-1020 households2,198 households10 households36 households7,519 households116,079 households
2017-0918 households1,944 households9 households28 households6,424 households107,819 households
2017-0810 households1,661 households8 households10 households5,316 households99,052 households
2017-0713 households1,399 households7 households0 households4,388 households91,622 households
2017-068 households1,112 households9 households5 households3,638 households84,039 households
2017-056 households870 households6 households0 households2,963 households78,695 households
2017-048 households598 households0 households0 households2,362 households73,881 households
2017-037 households181 households0 households0 households1,507 households66,693 households
2017-027 households23 households0 households0 households1,042 households60,883 households
2017-015 households24 households0 households0 households720 households55,113 households
2016-120 households21 households0 households0 households518 households49,684 households
2016-110 households18 households0 households0 households460 households45,427 households
2016-105 households16 households0 households0 households404 households41,275 households
2016-090 households19 households0 households0 households328 households36,311 households
2016-080 households13 households0 households0 households282 households32,549 households
2016-070 households16 households0 households0 households235 households29,039 households
2016-060 households14 households0 households0 households161 households24,820 households
2016-050 households6 households0 households0 households109 households22,017 households
2016-040 households5 households0 households0 households68 households19,748 households
2016-030 households9 households0 households0 households59 households17,467 households
2016-020 households8 households0 households0 households50 households15,822 households
2016-010 households5 households0 households0 households36 households14,077 households

Households (a single claimant or a couple, with any children) with a Universal Credit award, from DWP Stat-Xplore, residence-based. DWP publishes these monthly; shown from January 2016. Households with children are those whose award includes the child element (Stat-Xplore "Child Entitlement" = Yes). The note on each figure gives their share of all households on Universal Credit.

Trend, comparison and definition

What this answers: What share of Portsmouth residents aged 16 to 64 are on Universal Credit while in paid work?

People on Universal Credit who are in work, share of residents aged 16 to 64

January 2016 to December 2025

Portsmouth · %

Reviewed figures: January 2016 to December 2025.

Shown on this chart: From January 2016 to December 2025, people on Universal Credit who are in work, share of residents aged 16 to 64 rose by 8.7 percentage points in Portsmouth and rose by 7.4 percentage points in England.

Both places compared over January 2016 to December 2025, using matching published dates.

Compared areas: Portsmouth; England.

Actual values

PortsmouthEngland

Each line joins consecutive published observations for that place. Missing dates remain gaps.

People on Universal Credit who are in work, share of residents aged 16 to 64 · % of residents aged 16-64
PeriodPortsmouthSouthamptonChichesterWinchesterSouth EastEngland
2026-05––––––
2026-04––––––
2026-03––––––
2026-02––––––
2026-01––––––
2025-128.7%8.1%7%5.6%6.6%7.6%
2025-118.7%8.1%7%5.6%6.6%7.6%
2025-108.7%8.1%6.9%5.4%6.6%7.6%
2025-098.7%8%6.9%5.4%6.5%7.5%
2025-088.7%8.1%7%5.4%6.6%7.6%
2025-078.7%8.1%7.1%5.5%6.6%7.6%
2025-068.8%8.1%7.1%5.5%6.6%7.6%
2025-058.7%8.2%7%5.4%6.6%7.6%
2025-048.7%8.3%7.1%5.4%6.6%7.7%
2025-038.7%8.2%6.9%5.4%6.6%7.7%
2025-028.7%8.1%6.8%5.3%6.5%7.6%
2025-018.7%8.2%6.9%5.3%6.5%7.6%
2024-128.7%8.3%6.9%5.5%6.6%7.7%
2024-118.6%8.2%6.9%5.4%6.6%7.7%
2024-108.6%8.2%6.9%5.3%6.5%7.6%
2024-098.5%8.1%6.8%5.3%6.5%7.5%
2024-088.5%8.1%6.8%5.3%6.4%7.5%
2024-078.4%8%6.7%5.2%6.4%7.4%
2024-068.4%8.1%6.6%5.2%6.4%7.4%
2024-058.3%8%6.5%5.2%6.3%7.3%
2024-048.2%7.9%6.3%5.1%6.2%7.1%
2024-038.2%7.8%6.2%5%6.1%7%
2024-027.9%7.6%6%4.9%5.9%6.9%
2024-017.8%7.5%6%4.8%5.9%6.7%
2023-127.7%7.7%6%4.8%6%6.9%
2023-117.6%7.6%6%4.7%5.9%6.8%
2023-107.4%7.6%6%4.6%5.8%6.7%
2023-097.4%7.5%5.9%4.5%5.7%6.6%
2023-087.3%7.6%6%4.6%5.7%6.5%
2023-077.3%7.6%6%4.6%5.7%6.5%
2023-067.3%7.6%5.9%4.6%5.7%6.5%
2023-057.2%7.5%5.8%4.5%5.6%6.4%
2023-047.2%7.5%5.8%4.5%5.6%6.4%
2023-037.1%7.4%5.6%4.4%5.6%6.4%
2023-027.1%7.4%5.6%4.4%5.6%6.3%
2023-017.1%7.5%5.6%4.4%5.6%6.4%
2022-127.4%7.9%5.7%4.5%5.7%6.6%
2022-117.5%7.9%5.7%4.5%5.7%6.6%
2022-107.4%7.9%5.7%4.4%5.7%6.6%
2022-097.5%8%5.8%4.4%5.8%6.7%
2022-087.4%8%5.8%4.3%5.7%6.6%
2022-077.4%8%5.7%4.3%5.7%6.6%
2022-067.3%7.9%5.6%4.2%5.7%6.6%
2022-057.3%7.9%5.5%4.1%5.6%6.5%
2022-047.3%7.9%5.6%4.2%5.7%6.6%
2022-037.4%7.9%5.6%4.2%5.7%6.6%
2022-027.3%8%5.5%4.1%5.7%6.6%
2022-017.4%8%5.5%4.1%5.7%6.6%
2021-127.7%8.5%5.8%4.3%5.9%6.9%
2021-117.7%8.5%5.9%4.2%6%7%
2021-107.8%8.6%5.9%4.3%6%7%
2021-097.8%8.7%5.9%4.3%6.1%7%
2021-087.9%8.7%6.1%4.4%6.1%7%
2021-077.9%8.8%6.2%4.4%6.2%7.1%
2021-067.9%8.8%6.3%4.5%6.2%7.1%
2021-057.9%8.7%6.2%4.5%6.2%7.1%
2021-047.7%8.6%6.1%4.6%6.1%7%
2021-037.7%8.6%6%4.6%6.2%7%
2021-027.7%8.6%6%4.5%6.1%6.9%
2021-017.7%8.7%6%4.4%6.2%7%
2020-127.6%9%6.3%4.6%6.3%7.2%
2020-117.4%8.8%6.2%4.5%6.2%7%
2020-107.3%8.5%6.1%4.4%6.1%6.9%
2020-097.3%8.4%6.2%4.3%6%6.8%
2020-087.3%8.3%6.1%4.2%6%6.7%
2020-077.2%8.3%6%4.3%6%6.6%
2020-067.2%8.1%5.8%4.2%5.9%6.4%
2020-057%7.8%5.6%4.1%5.7%6.2%
2020-045.3%6.4%4.2%3.2%4.1%4.8%
2020-032.9%4.2%2.3%1.7%2.4%2.9%
2020-022.8%4%2.2%1.7%2.3%2.8%
2020-012.7%3.9%2%1.6%2.2%2.7%
2019-122.6%4%2%1.6%2.2%2.7%
2019-112.5%3.8%2%1.5%2.2%2.6%
2019-102.3%3.7%1.9%1.4%2%2.5%
2019-092.1%3.6%1.8%1.3%1.9%2.4%
2019-082%3.5%1.6%1.3%1.8%2.2%
2019-071.9%3.5%1.6%1.2%1.7%2.1%
2019-061.8%3.5%1.4%1.2%1.6%2.1%
2019-051.6%3.3%1.3%1.1%1.5%1.9%
2019-041.4%3.2%1.2%1%1.4%1.8%
2019-031.2%3.1%1.1%0.9%1.3%1.7%
2019-021%3.1%1%0.9%1.2%1.6%
2019-010.9%3.3%0.9%0.8%1.2%1.6%
2018-120.7%3.3%0.8%0.7%1.2%1.6%
2018-110.5%3.2%0.7%0.6%1%1.4%
2018-100.3%3.1%0.6%0.6%0.9%1.3%
2018-090.2%3%0.5%0.5%0.8%1.2%
2018-080.2%2.9%0.3%0.4%0.7%1.1%
2018-070.2%2.8%0.2%0.3%0.7%1%
2018-060.3%2.7%0.2%0.3%0.6%1%
2018-050.3%2.6%0.2%0.2%0.6%0.9%
2018-040.3%2.5%0.2%0.2%0.5%0.8%
2018-030.3%2.3%0.2%0.3%0.5%0.8%
2018-020.3%2.2%0.2%0.2%0.5%0.8%
2018-010.3%2%0.2%0.2%0.4%0.7%
2017-120.3%2%0.2%0.2%0.4%0.7%
2017-110.3%1.8%0.2%0.2%0.4%0.7%
2017-100.3%1.6%0.2%0.2%0.4%0.7%
2017-090.3%1.4%0.2%0.1%0.3%0.6%
2017-080.3%1.2%0.2%0.1%0.3%0.6%
2017-070.3%1.1%0.2%0.1%0.3%0.6%
2017-060.3%0.9%0.2%0.1%0.3%0.5%
2017-050.3%0.7%0.2%0.1%0.3%0.5%
2017-040.3%0.5%0.2%0.1%0.2%0.5%
2017-030.3%0.4%0.2%0.1%0.2%0.5%
2017-020.2%0.3%0.2%0.1%0.2%0.4%
2017-010.2%0.3%0.2%0.1%0.2%0.4%
2016-120.2%0.3%0.2%0.1%0.2%0.4%
2016-110.2%0.3%0.2%0.1%0.2%0.4%
2016-100.2%0.3%0.2%0.1%0.2%0.4%
2016-090.2%0.3%0.2%0.1%0.2%0.4%
2016-080.1%0.3%0.2%0.1%0.2%0.3%
2016-070.1%0.3%0.1%0.1%0.2%0.3%
2016-060%0.3%0.1%0.1%0.1%0.3%
2016-050%0.3%0.1%0.1%0.1%0.2%
2016-040%0.3%0.1%0.1%0.1%0.2%
2016-030%0.3%0.1%0%0.1%0.2%
2016-020%0.2%0.1%0%0.1%0.2%
2016-010%0.2%0%0%0.1%0.2%

Definition: People on Universal Credit whom DWP's employment indicator shows with PAYE earnings or self-employment in the assessment period (Stat-Xplore "Employment Indicator Band"), divided by the ONS mid-year population aged 16-64 for the same calendar year. People whose status is "not available" are in neither line, so the two lines can add to slightly less than the total rate.

  • Universal Credit replaced six older benefits (income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit) area by area. Rises mostly reflect people moving from those benefits, not only more people needing help.
  • DWP has been moving people still on the older benefits onto Universal Credit ("Move to Universal Credit"), which keeps pushing the count up regardless of local need.
  • The employment indicator comes from HMRC PAYE records and self-employment declarations. Someone in work may still be shown as not in work if their pay was not reported in that period.
  • DWP fills the indicator a month late, so the latest month is blank.
  • Being in work on Universal Credit usually means low earnings or high costs (rent, children); it is not a sign the person is unemployed.
  • The rate divides by the ONS mid-year estimate of residents aged 16-64 for the same calendar year (fetched in this script). Universal Credit is for people of working age, so a few people outside 16-64 are counted on top; the rate is a guide, not an exact share.
  • Population source: Population estimates - local authority based by single year of age (NM_2002_1), Mid-year estimates 2013 to 2025 as held on Nomis at retrieval; sha256 dae531f074a8.

Series breaks: 2017-02: Southampton jobcentre moved to Universal Credit full service (all new claimant types) in February 2017. Before then only simpler claims (mostly single jobseekers) went onto Universal Credit there. 2018-09: Portsmouth and Cosham jobcentres moved to Universal Credit full service in September 2018. Before then only simpler claims went onto Universal Credit in Portsmouth, so earlier Portsmouth figures are not comparable with later ones. 2018-12: Full service reached every jobcentre in Great Britain by December 2018. South East and England figures before then mix areas at different stages.

Department for Work and Pensions: Stat-Xplore: People on Universal Credit ↗ · Monthly; latest month on Stat-Xplore at retrieval May 2026. Response SHA-256 prefixes by place: E06000044 bb6d23b5e3c4; E06000045 1185cf95221d; E07000225 28cea626450c; E07000094 77a106089bb5; E07000123 a84f63c0e3c1; E06000010 7be39c9979a2; E12000008 43867cabff64; E92000001 dceda6a4d5b4 (source.sha256 is Portsmouth's) · retrieved 2026-11-09

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