Number of people on universal credit has increased by more than 90 per cent since beginning of coronavirus pandemic

New statistics also show that claims made during pandemic account for more than a third of total claims for universal credit since its introduction

The number of people on universal credit has increased by more than 90 per cent since the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, according to new DWP statistics.

In Universal Credit Statistics: 29 April 2013 to 8 October 2020, published today, the DWP confirms that the number of people on universal credit was 5.7 million on 8 October 2020 (up 2 per cent on 10 September 2020), and that there has been a 90 per cent (2.7 million) increase in the number of people on the benefit from 3 million on 12 March 2020, the last count date before the pandemic.

In addition the DWP says that, since 13 March 2020, there have been 3.7 million claims made for universal credit, representing more than one-third (35 per cent) of the 10.6 million claims made since its introduction in April 2013.

However, the DWP adds that -

'Following the initial surge in claims made to universal credit, the number of claims made gradually reduced week-on-week as further support measures were announced and the initial uncertainty of the effect of the lockdown on household incomes became clearer. Claims made returned to pre-pandemic levels around the end of June 2020, since when they have remained at around 55,000 to 65,000 claims a week.'

The DWP also highlights that -

• nearly 65 per cent of the 5.7 million people on universal credit on 8 October 2020 have been claiming for more than six months, including the people that made a claim in the first month after the beginning of lockdown;
• around 35 per cent of people on universal credit have been claiming for more than one year; and
• more than 700,000 claimants moved to the 'over six months' category between September 2020 and October 2020.

Elsewhere, the statistics show that -

• 96 per cent of new claims and 98 per cent of all claims received their full payment in full and on time for the assessment period covering 9 July 2020, compared with 88 per cent and 96 per cent respectively in March 2020; and
• of the 5.7 million people on universal credit at 8 October 2020, 39 per cent were in the ‘searching for work’ conditionality regime and 38 per cent were in employment.

For more information, see Universal Credit Statistics: 29 April 2013 to 8 October 2020 from gov.uk