HUNDREDS more people in Oxford are claiming Universal Credit, figures show.
Department for Work and Pensions figures show 5,499 people in Oxford were on Universal Credit as of March 12 – a 3per cent increase on the month before.
Read more: behind the scenes at Oxford's Job Centre
Local figures on claimants are only available prior the point Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed strict social distancing rules by placing the country into lockdown.
But national figures show the DWP have processed 1.8 million new claims from individuals in the month since, meaning the figure in Oxford is likely to be much higher by now.
National figures show the biggest increase in claims between February and March was among those aged 60 or over.
In Oxford, the number of people aged 60 to 65 on UC increased by 4per cent, while the number of 66-plus claimants rose from 5 to 8.
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