DWP begins Automated claimant reviews of Universal Credit claims

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has begun reviewing some people's Universal Credit claims, according to guidance published by the charity Turn2us on 25 February 2026. The checks are called Automated claimant reviews and can happen at any time, to make sure claimants are getting the right amount of Universal Credit¹.

Turn2us states that being selected for a review does not mean a claimant has done anything wrong¹.

What the review involves

If a claim is chosen, the DWP contacts the claimant through their Universal Credit journal. Claimants are asked to provide documents and take part in a phone interview¹.

The documents that might be requested are¹:

• bank statements relating to savings, income and earnings
• information about housing and childcare costs
• documents relating to caring responsibilities

Turn2us says it is "really important to respond if the DWP contacts you", and that payments could be stopped if the requested information is not provided or a phone interview is missed. Claimants who are unsure what to do can leave a message in their journal asking the claim review agent for help¹.

After the review

Once a review is complete, a message is sent to the claimant's Universal Credit journal. Turn2us says the award might go up or down, or stay the same, depending on whether circumstances have changed¹.

Claimants who disagree with a decision made during a review have the right to challenge it¹.

Why it matters for households

The reviews apply to people already receiving Universal Credit, and Turn2us says they can be triggered at any point rather than at a fixed date¹. Because the DWP asks for bank statements covering savings, income and earnings, along with details of housing and childcare costs, claimants may need to produce records that are not routinely held in their journal. The stated consequence of not engaging is that payments could be stopped, which would affect a household's main or sole income while the review is unresolved¹.

Any change to an award after a review takes effect through the claimant's Universal Credit journal, and Turn2us says the outcome can move in either direction¹. The guidance does not set out how long a review takes, how many claims will be selected, or which claimants are prioritised; those details have not been reported¹.

What happens next

There is no published timetable for the reviews. Turn2us says they can happen at any time, and that the DWP makes contact through the Universal Credit journal when a claim is selected¹. Claimants who do not agree with a review decision can use the normal challenge process for DWP benefit decisions¹.