Claimant rise down to Universal Credit
● A RISE in the number of Halton residents claiming out-of-work benefits may be due to the switch to Universal Credit rather than an increase in unemployment, a Jobcentre Plus spokesman has said following the latest release of jobs figures.
Figures published by the Office For National Statistics showed that the number of workingage claimants increased by 7% in December compared to the same period a year earlier.
There were also 100 more individuals in Halton receiving unemployment benefits compared to November, rising to 2,265 borough inhabitants in December.
Youth unemployment appeared to be down, with the number of young adults aged 18-24 in the claimant count falling 12% compared to the previous year and down 9.3% on November.
Clive Morris, of Jobcentre Plus, said the full switch to Universal Credit from Jobseekers’ Allowance in Halton, which was among the areas to undergo the change, meant that more benefits recipients would be included in the claimant count rather than the increase in claimants reflecting a rise in unemployment.
He said other areas would be expected to record a similar effect when they moved to Universal Credit.
Mr Morris added that Universal Credit had brought advantages to recipients such as more flexibility regarding hours worked.
He said claimant count is used to gauge employment levels because statisticians believe it is one of the most useful measures and gives a ‘pretty accurate picture’ of year-on-year employment level comparisons.
The DWP said UK unemployment remained at an 11-year record low of 4.8%, down by more than 900,000 since 2010.
It added that wages before bonuses grew by 2.7% over the last year.
Damian Hinds, employment minister, said: “We start the new year with another encouraging set of figures. Employment continues to run at a near-record high, unemployment remains at an 11-year low and both figures are stronger than this time last year – highlighting the strength and resilience of our labour market as we step up to the challenges of 2017.
“It’s good news in the North West where the number of women in work has risen by 48,000 over the past year to record high of 1.64m women in work.
“We have made real progress creating a strong economy and helping more people into work, and will do what is needed to continue that trajectory as we build a country that works for everyone.”