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30 June, 2020 Open access

Number of new universal credit claims during week to 23 June 2020 fell by around 10 per cent on previous week’s total

However, new DWP statistics highlight that weekly number of new claims remains higher than in the weeks immediately preceding lockdown

The number of new universal credit claims made during the week to 23 June 2020 has fallen by around 10 per cent compared to the previous weekly total.

In the last release of its weekly management information on universal credit claims, before it reverts back to a monthly and quarterly publication cycle, the DWP highlights that in the week to 23 June 2020 there were 81,730 individual declarations for universal credit - 9.5 per cent less than the number recorded (90,330) in the previous week.

However, while this continues a gradual decline in weekly claim numbers, the total remains higher than in the first two weeks of March 2020 prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown, when it was 76,510 (in the week to 8 March) and 81,420 (in the week to 15 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 1,285,750 advance payments have been awarded on new claims.

Universal Credit management information tables: 1 March to 23 June 2020 is available from gov.uk