ALMOST 208,000 people in the East of England are now benefitting from bespoke Universal Credit support, according to the latest official figures.
New data, released this week, shows 2.7 million people across Britain are receiving Universal Credit support – an increase of 5% from the previous month.
The publication of the latest figures comes just days after the UK employment rate rose to a new record high of 76.2%.
In further good news unemployment levels remain at a low rate of 3.8%, according to the data.
Universal Credit, which is available in every jobcentre across the UK, simplifies the benefit system and replaces six previous benefits with a single monthly payment.
With the new system people are moving into work faster and staying in work for longer than they were before.
Significant improvements have been made over the past year including increasing the amount available to claimants as an advance to tide them over until they receive their first payment and increasing the time parents and guardians have to claim back childcare costs.
Minister for Welfare Delivery Will Quince said:
“Universal Credit is a force for good and provides a vital safety net for people who are out of work or on low wages across the East of England.
“Significant improvements have been made in the past year, such as providing extra support for families reporting childcare costs reducing deductions, and we will continue to work towards improving the service.
“This Government believes that finding work is the best route towards prosperity and under Universal Credit more people are better off by moving into work faster and staying there for longer.”
