Written question asked by Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated) on Thursday, 21 May 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Friday, 5 June 2026. It was answered by Baroness Sherlock (Labour) on Thursday, 11 June 2026 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Social Security Benefits: Pay

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government how many benefit recipients receive higher than the national average wage.

Answer: According to the Annual Survey for Hours and Earnings, produced by the Office for National Statistics, the median gross annual earnings for full-time employees in the UK who had been in their jobs for at least a year were £39,039 in April 2025. Using the Family (Benefit Unit) dataset from the Family Resources Survey for financial year ending 2025, there were 200,000 families in the UK who received more than £39,039 in State Support (this comprises tax credits and all benefits, including State Pension).

Secondary information