Extra 1.3m workers on universal credit since pandemic began, research finds

The Guardian says Unions have urged the government to do more to help low-paid workers weather the cost of living crisis, after research found the number claiming universal credit has more than doubled since the start of the pandemic to at least 2.3 million.

The TUC said the 1.3 million increase in working universal credit claimants had been caused by households being pushed into financial hardship during Covid and called for a substantial rise in the payments and a higher minimum wage to head off a “perfect storm” of costs coming in spring.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/feb/07/extra-13m-workers-on-universal-credit-since-pandemic-began-research-finds