Number of new universal credit claims during week to 16 June 2020 still almost 20 per cent higher than during first week of March

New DWP statistics also highlight that more than one million advance payments have been awarded on new claims since the start of lockdown

The number of new universal credit claims made during the week to 16 June 2020 was still almost 20 per cent higher than during the first week of March, prior to the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown.

In Universal Credit management information tables: 1 March to 16 June 2020, the DWP highlights that in the week to 16 June 2020 there were 90,330 individual declarations for universal credit - 18 per cent more than the number recorded (76,510) in the first week of March - 

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, since the start of lockdown on 16 March 2020, a total of 1,006,420 advance payments have been awarded on new claims.

Universal Credit management information tables: 1 March to 16 June 2020 is available from gov.uk