Coronavirus crisis leads to sharp rise Universal Credit applications

Amidst the economic crisis caused by Covid-19, the government has announced billions of pounds of financial support for businesses and workers – with estimates that the cost of the government’s furlough scheme could top $40 billion.

But it hasn’t stopped a sharp rise in the number of people applying for Universal Credit – more than a million in just over a fortnight. A survey seen by Channel 4 News estimates that number could continue to rise dramatically.