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Blackburn Universal Credit THE number of people claiming unemployment benefits at the end of last year was far above that seen at the start of the pandemic, figures show. Office for National Statistics data shows 7,535 people were claiming out-of-work benefits as of December 10, compared to just 4,550 in early March – an increase of 2,985. That is 8.1 per cent of the area s working-age population, up from 4.9 per cent. The figures include those aged 16 to 64 on Jobseeker’s Allowance and some Universal Credit claimants, who are unemployed and seeking work or employed but with low earnings. National figures, which are adjusted to account for seasonal changes, show around 2.64 million people across the UK were seeking help at the start of December – up from 1.24 million in March and 1.23 million a year earlier.
Demand for out-of-work benefits in Reading remains well above pre-pandemic levels THE number of people claiming unemployment benefits in Reading at the end of last year was more than double that seen at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, figures reveal. Office for National Statistics data shows 6,880 people were claiming out-of-work benefits as of December 10, compared to just 3,070 in early March – an increase of 3,810. That is 6.4 per cent of the area s working-age population, up from 2.8 per cent. The figures include those aged 16 to 64 on Jobseeker’s Allowance and some Universal Credit claimants, who are unemployed and seeking work or employed but with low earnings.