The number of people claiming benefits with no requirements to be in work has risen to an all-time high, new data from the Department for Work and Pensions shows – climbing by 1 million in the past year alone.
Some 3.6 million people claiming universal credit (UC) are not required to be working or seeking work, according to the latest figures from June, largely because of because of illness or disability, student status, or caring responsibilities. This figure has doubled in less than three years and makes up nearly half (46 per cent) of all 7.9 million claimants.
