19 May, 2020 Open access
19 May, 2020 Open access
Increase of 1.2 million claimants represents a 40 per cent monthly increase, compared to an average 4 per cent monthly increase over previous year
More than four million people are now claiming universal credit, according to new DWP statistics.
In Universal Credit: 29 April 2013 to 9 April 2020, published today, the DWP reports that there were 1.2 million starts to universal credit in the period 13 March 2020 to 9 April 2020, resulting in a claimant count of 4.2 million by the end of the period - a monthly increase of 40 per cent, as compared to an average monthly increase of 4 per cent in the year between April 2019 and March 2020.
Observing that the restrictions that were introduced throughout the country as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic led to the huge increase in the number of claims for universal credit, the DWP highlights how peaks in the number of claims have coincided with key events -
NB - the DWP has also today published updated management information showing the daily counts of universal credit declarations and advances from 1 March to 5 May 2020.
Universal Credit: 29 April 2013 to 9 April 2020 is available from gov.uk
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