Hire the long-term sick or the welfare bill will soar, warns charity boss as UC health jumps to 2.9m

Britain’s benefits bill is being driven higher by a fresh surge in Universal Credit health claims, with 2.9 million people now on the UC health journey in June 2025, according to Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures published this morning. Of those, 301,000 were awaiting a Work Capability Assessment with acceptable medical evidence, 409,000 were classed as having limited capability for work, and 2.2 million were in the limited capability for work and work-related activity group, the DWP said. 

Women made up 54% of the UC health caseload, while 39% of claimants were aged 50 plus, and 8% were under 25, according to the department.

According to DWP guidance, people found to have limited capability for work (LCW) are expected to take part in some work-related activity, while those placed in the limited capability for work and work-related activity group (LCWRA) are not required to undertake interviews or work-related tasks due to the severity of their condition.

Colin Crooks MBE HonDsc, CEO at Intentionality, worklessness expert and author of How to Make a Million Jobs, said ministers must stop “managing the symptoms” and focus on fixing the causes by getting more people with long-term conditions into suitable work. “The surge in Universal Credit claimants demands urgent government action to tackle the root causes, not just manage the symptoms,” he said.

Mr Crooks urged the government to bring together “patient, decent” employers and fund the real costs of hiring people with long-term conditions. “Ministers must immediately mobilise a coalition of willing employers who understand that hiring people with long-term conditions isn’t charity, it’s untapped potential that requires proper support,” he said.

He said financial backing was needed for workplace adjustments, training, and the extra time many recruits need to reach full productivity. “These patient, decent employers need real financial backing to cover the genuine costs of workplace adjustments, training, and the time needed to bring people up to full productivity,” he added.

Warning that the current trajectory would pile costs onto the state, Mr Crooks said the choice for ministers was stark. “Without this targeted investment in employment partnerships, we’re condemning thousands to permanent dependency when they could be contributing members of the workforce. The government must choose: pay now to support employment, or pay far more later in benefits.”