Issue with April 2018 Claimant Count data

Figures for April 2018 Claimant Count should be treated with caution.

The Department for Work and Pensions have identified that there was an issue with the operational system in April 2018 which resulted in a number of people on Universal Credit being placed in the incorrect conditionality regime. This has led to a general overstatement in the number of claimants for April 2018. The issue was resolved in May 2018 and claimants were returned to their correct conditionality regime.

Since the issue relates to the Universal Credit element of the Claimant Count, Jobseeker’s Allowance figures are not affected.