# Food insecurity amongst universal credit claimants: the benefits and nutrition study (BEANS), a cross-sectional online study

## TL;DR

This study shows that most people on Universal Credit in the UK face severe food insecurity, with low incomes and limited access to nutritious food worsening their situation.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the high prevalence of food insecurity among Universal Credit claimants and identifies specific socio-demographic and economic factors linked to poor nutrition.

## Key findings

- 84.8% of Universal Credit claimants experienced food insecurity, with 73.8% facing very low food security.
- Lower income, unemployment, and longer travel times to obtain food significantly increased the risk of food insecurity.
- Diet quality among UC claimants was worse than national averages, with insufficient micronutrient intake and limited protein and fruit consumption.

## Abstract

Increasing food insecurity (FIS) in the UK presents a major challenge to public health. Universal Credit (UC) claimants are disproportionately impacted by FIS but research on socio-demographic factors and consequent nutritional security is limited.

A cross-sectional online survey (September 2021 - April 2022) assessed FIS in UC claimants (males and females, n = 328) (USDA 10 question module), dietary intake (females, n = 43; 3–4 × 24-hour dietary recalls) and coping strategies. Binary logistic regression tested sociodemographic variables influencing the odds of food insecurity. Diets ofUC were compared with national diet and nutrition survey (NDNS) participants and thematic analysis conducted for drivers and impacts of FIS.

FIS was experienced by 84.8% of UC respondents (73.8% very low food security). Equivalised income <£200 week-1 increased odds of FIS by 7.3 (3.4–15.3) times compared with households receiving >£300 week-1. Being unemployed (P = 0.004), travelling > 15 min to obtain food (P = 0.016), shopping less than twice per week (P = 0.001) and receiving < 47.7% of the minimum income standard (MIS) all increased risk of FIS. Diet quality of working age females was lower (45.9%) compared to those in the NDNS (49.6-55.8%; P < 0.05) characterised by limited protein sources, minimal fruit consumption and reliance on bread. Intakes of vitamin A, iron, selenium, potassium, iodine and magnesium were consistently below most NDNS cohorts. Participants felt impotent to make substantive changes to their diets due to poverty.

During this study, dependence on UC almost guaranteed recipients would be food insecure, consuming insufficient micronutrients to support health. MIS may provide a useful benchmark to prevent food poverty.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00394-025-03596-y.