ALMOST one in five working-age people in Inverclyde are now on Universal Credit, new figures show.

As of October, 8,984 residents were claiming benefits through the system, which equates to 18 per cent of 16 to 64-year-olds in the district.

According to data released by the Department for Work and Pensions, it is the second-highest rate in Scotland, marginally behind neighbouring North Ayrshire.

The figures also lay bare the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on people’s incomes and employment in Inverclyde.

Since the start of the year, the number of residents claiming Universal Credit has rocketed by more than 45 per cent, with the biggest jump recorded between March and April when the country was sent into lockdown.

Anti-poverty charity Turn2Us say the shocking statistics show an alarmingly-high number of local people struggling to make ends meet.

Their spokesperson Sara Willcocks said: “These new figures clearly show the pandemic’s profound and devastating impact on people’s income, employment and how close to the cliff edge many are – even prior to the first lockdown.

“Recent government schemes have protected some people from the economic consequences of the pandemic, yet there’s more that needs to be done.

“A Universal Credit system that is fit for purpose would do much to help people recover and to loosen poverty’s grip."

The proportion of working-age people claiming Universal Credit in Inverclyde stands way above the Scottish and UK average of 14 per cent.

A total of 473,469 Scots were signed up to the payment in October, with data showing the number has risen by almost 80 per cent since March.

A UK Government spokesman said: “We are wholly committed to supporting the lowest paid families and our policies, in particular those related to the pandemic, are under constant review.”

The government added it has recently confirmed the £20 Universal Credit uplift will remain in place until March 2021 and taken steps to help ease the burden of UC debt repayments, including reducing the maximum deduction from 40 per cent to 30 per cent of a claimant’s standard allowance.

From October 2021, the government will reduce this further to 25 per cent, and will double the time available to repay an advance to 24 months.