Universal Credit claims up 120,000 in Wales since coronavirus outbreak

The data, collected between 1 March and 12 May, was submitted by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Rt Hon Therese Coffey MP as part of the Committee’s inquiry into the Welsh Economy and Covid-19.  

At the peak of the crisis, the Department of Work and Pensions received more than 6,000 new claims per day as households bore the effects of the lockdown. 

Stephen Crabb MP, the Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee said, “These figures are deeply troubling. They reveal tens of thousands of people in Wales falling into financial hardship as the economic impact of the lockdown bites. 

No one wants to see a return to the days when Wales was blighted by high levels of unemployment. So there is a huge challenge for all levels of government if we are to avoid long-term deep scarring of the Welsh economy.”

ENDS 

Editor’s Notes:

You can find the full letter with a daily breakdown of new claimants here.