By Steph Brawn and Annie Gouk

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 region.

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

The figures – analysed by the Reach Data Unit – 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 UK was sent into lockdown.

Anti-poverty charity Turn2Us say the shocking statistics show the alarmingly-high number of people struggling to make ends meet, with the majority of the UK now facing more uncertainty while in the midst of a second lockdown.

And Sara Willcocks, head of external affairs, has insisted governments need to provide support beyond the schemes already in place.

She said: “These new Universal Credit figures clearly show the pandemic’s profound and devastating impact on people’s income, employment and how close to the cliff edge many of us 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.

“If this government truly wants to stop people from being pulled into homelessness, hunger and debt, we urge them to increase the child element of Universal Credit, maintain the increase to Local Housing Allowance rates and urgently review policies like the benefit cap and two-child limit.”

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 that they have already taken steps to help ease the burden of Universal Credit 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.