VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Universal Credit: Medical Certificates

Asked by Rupert LoweRestore BritainDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled Answered 6 March 2025UIN 34087

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people claiming Universal Credit received fit notes in 2024.

Answered by Sir Stephen Timms

The number of people on Universal Credit in Great Britain who submitted an accepted fit note to the Department from January 2024 to September 2024 is 805,890.

Notes:

Numbers are rounded to 10.

Statistics have been provided to September 2024 in line with latest published statistics on fit notes.

Although most will have submitted Statements of Fitness for Work (fit notes), other forms of medical evidence that the Department accepts (e.g. hospital discharge letters) will be included in the totals.

Data was taken from Universal Credit analytical systems but results have not been quality assured to Official Statistics publication standard.

The Department regularly publishes Universal Credit Health Journey caseload statistics on Stat-Xplore including the monthly number of people on UC Health with a current fit-note.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim