Recent data shows many Midlands towns have high Universal Credit claimant rates, raising concerns about living costs and support adequacy.
Coventry: Recent statistics show that towns in the Midlands have high benefit claimant rates. In some areas, one in 11 residents claim Universal Credit (UC). This includes unemployed people and those needing extra support.
Campaigners warn that Universal Credit isn’t enough to cover basic living costs. In Coventry alone, 47,282 people claim UC, with 17,101 of them working.
Wolverhampton and Sandwell have the highest UC rates in the West Midlands, with one in 11 people claiming. Birmingham follows closely with one in 12, while Dudley has one in 15.
Leicester and Stoke-on-Trent also report high rates, with one in 11 and one in 12 respectively. Interestingly, about 40% of UC claimants are employed but still struggle to make ends meet.
Research from Trussell and the Joseph Roundtree Foundation (JRF) shows that the standard UC rate doesn’t cover basic needs like food and bills. This forces many to make tough choices during hard times.
As of October, over 7.1 million people claim Universal Credit, which combines various benefits. About 2.7 million of these claimants are working but still rely on UC.
Iain Porter from JRF points out that many working people still face poverty. He stresses that the current UC rate of £91 a week is inadequate and often reduced further for debt repayments.
Porter calls for a change, suggesting the Government should ensure a minimum support level in Universal Credit. This would help cover essential costs and prevent reductions from pushing support too low.
