Hundreds more on Universal Credit in city

Hundreds more people in Sunderland are claiming Universal Credit as the effects of the coronavirus shutdown begin impact on the area's economy, new figures show.

With millions of people out of work across the UK, benefits experts Turn 2 us say the welfare state is" creaking round the seams" and urged the Government to remove the five-week wait for claim ants’ first monthly payment.

Department for Work and Pensions figures show 18,619 people in Sunderland were on Universal Credit as of March 12 – a three percent increase on the month before.

National figures show the DWP have processed 1.8million new claims in the month since – meaning the figure in the city is likely to be much higher now.

Anna Stevenson, welfare benefit expert at Turn2us, said: “While our welfare state is providing some protection, it is creaking round the seams. The Government needs to eliminate the five-week wait for Universal Credit so people can put food on the table today ."

Welfare Minister Will Quince told MPs last week that ending the wait "isn't something we considered" because it was not operationally deliver able, even if they could secure the £2.2bn a year needed.

The Government' s decision to raise the allowance by £20 a week at the beginning of April was a "step in the right direction" says the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, but it said it will still not be enough for the hardest-hit families.

Iain Porter, the organisation's social security policy and partnerships manager, said: "Families with children have been offered no extra support, We’ re calling for an urgent temporary increase of at least £20 to the child element of UniversalCredit and child tax credits .”