The number of people claiming Universal Credit has risen to 2.1 million, according to statistics published by the Department for Work and Pensions. The number of new claims rose by 69 per cent, 856,500 people, between March and April, following the start of lockdown.
The much-criticised single benefit was introduced under the Coalition Government from 2013,. Since then the administration of the payments and the five week wait between claiming and receiving money have been the subject of numerous investigations. Earlier this year, an inquest into the death of 57 year-old Errol Graham found he had starved to death following his benefits being stopped.
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