More than four million people are now claiming universal credit, according to new DWP statistics

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 -

• 60,000 claims were made on 20 March 2020 - the day the 'workers support package' was announced;
• 110,000 claims were made on 23 March 2020 -  the day the government implemented its 'stay at home' requirements including the immediate closure of shops selling non-essential goods and services - and a further 122,000 claims were made the following day; and
• 136,000 claims were made on 27 March 2020 - after the self-employed income support scheme was announced on the previous evening.

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