Oldham MP: Covid responsible for over 50% of Universal Credit claimants Date published: 22 January 2021 Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams has stated that over half of the 14,633 people receiving Universal Credit (UC) in her constituency started to claim social security support since the pandemic began. In a House of Commons speech during which she urged the Government to keep the £20 ‘uplift’ for people claiming Universal Credit, and to extend this to people on legacy support, the local MP said: “As the Covid crisis hit, not everyone could work from home and it was the low paid, in vulnerable sectors such as hospitality and leisure, who’ve been most affected, driving the increase in UC claimants.