Help for jobseekers as claimants soar

People in Horsham are being reassured that measures are in place to offer support after the number of Universal Credit claimants soared.

Analysis of Department for Work and Pensions figures by the JPIMedia Data Unit reveals the number of people claiming Universal Credit has more than doubled in each area of West Sussex – despite efforts to protect jobs through the government furlough scheme.

The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on the UK economy, with unemployment rising to a five-year high in the three months to December.

Crawley has been worst hit are in the county, with the number of claimants rising from 4,788 in January 2020 to 13,798 in January 2021, according to provisional figures – an increase of 188 per cent.

It means that, at the beginning of the year, an estimated 12 per cent of the population were claiming the benefit.

Universal Credit is available to low earners as well as those out of work, so some people on furlough could be receiving wage topups.

The area was closely followed by Mid Sussex, which saw a 186 per cent rise from 2,838 to 8,115 claimants.

Next came Horsham, which saw its number of claimants rise by 159 per cent, from 3,029 to 7,830 over the year period.

Horsham District Council cabinet member for the Local Economy and Finance said: “Whilst the uplift in Universal Credit benefit claimants at this time is significant, as a council, we would like to reassure unemployed residents that we are putting several measures in place to help alleviate this situation.

“We are set to launch a virtual Jobs and Skills Fair in the upcoming weeks, recruiting employers have already signed up to be part of this online event and we would urge any employers looking to recruit to contact us as there is still time for them to showcase their vacancies and opportunities at the fair.

“Additionally, we have our ongoing Journey to Work programme which provides guidance and employability skills training for jobseekers; we work in close collaboration with Horsham Jobcentre Plus to deliver this programme.

“As a first this year we have secured funding to set up a new Youth Employment Support Hub in Horsham Town Centre where young people who have been particularly hard hit by unemployment as a result of the pandemic can dropin for job hunting advice and to source vacancies for employment and training.”