Written Question·Treasury·UIN 112439

Social Security Benefits: Taxation

Tabled: 10 February 2026
Answered: 17 February 2026

Question

Shivani Raja

ConservativeLeicester East

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has any plans to make (a) Universal Credit, (b) Employment and Support Allowance, and (c) Housing Benefit taxable state benefits.

Answer

James Murray
Means-tested benefits that are designed to meet specific costs, such as Universal Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance and Pension Credit, are not taxable, and the government has no current plans to alter this.