9 June, 2020 Open access
9 June, 2020 Open access
However, current claim rate still lies around 20 per cent higher than pre-COVID rate
The number of new universal credit claims has dropped below 100,000 per week for the first time since the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown started, according to the latest management information from the DWP.
In Universal Credit management information tables: 1 March to 2 June 2020, the DWP highlights that, in the week commencing 25 May 2020, there were 96,510 individual declarations for universal credit - the lowest weekly number since the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown came into effect on 16 March 2020 (see table below) -
NB - the DWP advises that a 'declaration' is made where an individual or household provides information on their personal circumstances to begin a universal credit claim - not all declarations will go on to receive a payment.
In addition, the figures show that, between 16 March 2020 and 2 June 2020, a total of 945,500 advance payments were awarded on new claims.
Universal Credit management information tables: 1 March to 2 June 2020 is available from gov.uk
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