Coronavirus Impact on Universal Credit and Claimant Count Situation Within South Lanarkshire – April 2020
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CORONAVIRUS IMPACT ON UNIVERSAL CREDIT AND CLAIMANT COUNT SITUATION WITHIN SOUTH LANARKSHIRE – APRIL 2020 KEY POINTS Of the 82 Intermediate areas in South Lanarkshire, in April 2020, 38 or nearly half had over 300 of their residents claiming Universal Credit. Burnbank Central & Udston had the most at 734, with Hillhouse having 637 and Westburn / Newton with 628. The smallest number was in Stewartfield East at 41. Only two other areas had under 100 claimants. The highest Universal Credit claimant rate in April 2020 was in Burnbank Central & Udston at 24.4%. There were three other areas with over a fifth of their adult population on Universal Credit – Fairhill at 24.2%, Hillhouse at 23.1% and Strutherhill at 21.8%. A total of 40 areas had rates higher than the South Lanarkshire average of 11.7%. The lowest rates were 2.2% was in Thorntonhall, Jackton & Gardenhall and 2.3% in Stewartfield East. Over the April 2019 to April 2020, the numbers of claimants increased in every area. The largest increases were of 288 in Burnbank Central & Udston, of 272 in Westburn & Newton, 241 in Blantyre South & Wheatlands and 224 in Hillhouse. A total of 57 areas – 69% - had increases of over 100. The smallest increases were of 18 in Stewartfield East and 34 in Thorntonhall, Jackton & Gardenhall. In percentage terms over this period, 21 areas saw their number of claimants double and 62 saw increases of over two-thirds and only two areas had increases of less than 50% - Lanark North West at 38.3% and Douglas, Coalburn & Rigside at 38.8%. The South Lanarkshire increase was 78.7%. Over the year the largest percentage increases were of 208.7% in Earnock, 187.6% in Biggar, Symington, Thankerton & Dolphinton, 164.4% in Chapelton, Glengavel & Sandford and 161% in High Crosshill. In relation to the Unemployment Claimant Count, in April 2020 there were 11,545 people unemployed and claiming work related benefits in South Lanarkshire. The largest numbers were in Burnbank Central & Udston with 340, followed by Westburn & Newton at 320, Hillhouse with 290, Burnbank North with 265 and Vicarland & Cairns at 235. There were 56 areas – or 68% - with over 100 claimant unemployed. The smallest number were in Stewartfield East at 30. The highest Unemployed claimant rate was 11.5% in Burnbank Central & Udston. The next highest rates were of 11.1% in Fairhill, 10.7% in Hillhouse, 10% in Low Waters and 9.6% in Strutherhill. The South Lanarkshire average rate was 5.7%. The lowest rate was in Thorntonhall, Jackton and Gardenhall at 1.3%. A Morton / H Rae, CRU,FCR,SLC Note on April 2020 UC and claimant count June 2020 Over the April 2019 to April 2020, the numbers of claimants increased in every area. The largest increases were of 135 in Westburn & Newton, of 110 in Burnbank Central & Udston, and of 100 in both Vicarland & Cairns and Burnbank North. The smallest increase was of 15 in Stewartfield East In percentage terms over this period, 16 areas saw their number of claimants increase by 100% or more and 64 saw increases of over 50% and only three areas experiencing increases of less than a third – Calderwood Central at 28.6%, Burnside & Springhall at 31% and Carluke South at 31.3%. The South Lanarkshire increase was 63.9%. Over the year the largest percentage increases were of 250% in in the Thorntonhall, Jackton & Gardenhall area, followed by an increase of 150% in both Strathaven North and Bothwell South, of 142.9% in Earnock and of 140% in the Chapelton, Glengarval and Sandford. The following table shows the 20 intermediate areas in South Lanarkshire in April 2020 with the highest Universal Credit rate and the highest Claimant unemployment rate. It should be noted that a large proportion of the Claimant unemployed are made of up unemployed seeking and available Universal Credit claimants. Table 1: Intermediate areas with the highest claimant rates in April 2020 Universal Credit Rate Claimant Unemployment Rate Burnbank Central and Udston 24.4% Burnbank Central and Udston 11.5% Fairhill 24.2% Fairhill 11.1% Hillhouse 23.1% Hillhouse 10.7% Strutherhill 21.8% Low Waters 10.0% Blantyre South and Wheatlands 19.6% Strutherhill 9.6% Spittal 19.4% High Blantyre 9.4% Low Waters 19.2% Spittal 9.3% Burnhill and Bankhead North 18.8% Vicarland and Cairns 9.2% Douglas, Coalburn and Rigside 18.4% Burnhill and Bankhead North 8.9% Laighstonehall 17.9% Laighstonehall 8.8% Hareleeshill 17.8% Shawfield and Clincarthill 8.6% Fernhill and Cathkin 17.6% Whitehill 8.5% High Blantyre 17.2% Blantyre South and Wheatlands 8.5% Whitehill 16.9% Hareleeshill 8.3% Shawfield and Clincarthill 16.3% Burnbank North 7.8% Whitehills West 16.1% Fernhill and Cathkin 7.7% Carluke North 16.0% Woodhead and Meikle Earnock 7.7% Vicarland and Cairns 15.7% Westburn and Newton 7.5% Burnbank North 15.6% Douglas, Coalburn and Rigside 7.4% Lanark North East 15.3% Farme Cross and Gallowflat North 7.4% A Morton / H Rae, CRU,FCR,SLC Note on April 2020 UC and claimant count June 2020 UNIVERSAL CREDIT This analysis relates to the numbers claiming Universal Credit in South Lanarkshire at an Intermediate zone level (82 groups of datazones) in April 2020. In April 2020, the areas with the largest numbers of Universal Credit claimants in South Lanarkshire were Burnbank Central & Udston with 734, followed by Hillhouse with 637, Westburn & Newton with 628, Burnbank North with 539 and Blantyre South & Wheatlands at 528. There were only three areas with less than 100 Universal Credit claimants - 41 in Stewartfield East, Thorntonhall, Jackton and Gardenhall at 62 and Bothwell South at 71. Table 1 shows the 10 areas with the largest number of Universal Credit claimants in South Lanarkshire in April 2020 and their Universal Credit claimant rate. In terms of the areas with the highest Universal Credit claimant rates in April 2020, the highest rate in South Lanarkshire was 24.4% in Burnbank Central & Udston. The next highest rates were of 24.2% in Fairhill, 23.1% in Hillhouse, 21.8% in Strutherhill and 19.6% in Blantyre South & Wheatlands. The South Lanarkshire average rate was 11.7%, which makes the rates for Burnbank Central & Udston and Fairhill over twice the South Lanarkshire average. The rate in Hillhouse is just under twice the average and it is nearly twice the average for Strutherhill. The lowest rates were in Thorntonhall, Jackton and Gardenhall at 2.2%, in Stewartfield East at 2.3% and in Bothwell South at 3.6%. Table 2 shows the 10 areas with the highest Universal Credit claimant rate in South Lanarkshire in April 2020, this rate relative to the South Lanarkshire average of 11.7% and their Universal Credit claimant numbers. Between April 2019 and April 2020, the numbers of Universal Credit claimants in South Lanarkshire increased by 10,636. Of the 82 Intermediate areas in South Lanarkshire a total of 57 or 69% had increases of over 100. The smallest absolute increases were of 18 in Stewartfield East, 34 in Thorntonhall, Jackton and Gardenhall and 36 in Lanark North West. In terms of the largest absolute increases over this period, there was an increase of 288 in Burnbank Central & Udston, of 272 in Westburn & Newton, of 241 in Blantyre South & Wheatlands, of 224 in Hillhouse and 221 in Nerston & the landward side of East Kilbride. Table 3 shows the 10 areas with the highest increase in Universal Credit claimant numbers in South Lanarkshire between April 2019 and April 2020 – and the comparable percentage rise. Between April 2019 and April 2020, the numbers of Universal Credit claimants in South Lanarkshire increased by 78.7%. Of the 82 Intermediate areas in South Lanarkshire a total of 21 or 26% saw their claimant numbers double and 43 or 52% experienced increases above the South Lanarkshire increase with only two areas experiencing increases of less than 50% - Lanark North West at 38.3% and Douglas, Coalburn & Rigside at 38.8%. A Morton / H Rae, CRU,FCR,SLC Note on April 2020 UC and claimant count June 2020 The largest percentage increase over this period was of 208.7% for Earnock followed by an increase of 188% in the Biggar, Biggar, Symington, Thankerton & Dolphinton, 164.4% in Chapelton, Glengavel & Sandford and 161% in High Crosshill. Table 4 shows the 10 areas with the highest percentage increase in Universal Credit claimants in South Lanarkshire between April 2019 and April 2020 – and the comparable absolute rise. Table 1: Areas with the 10 largest numbers of Universal Credit claimants Rank Intermediate Area UC claimants UC Rate 1 Burnbank Central and Udston 734 24.4% 2 Hillhouse 637 23.1% 3 Westburn and Newton 628 14.5% 4 Burnbank North 539 15.6% 5 Blantyre South and Wheatlands 528 19.6% 6 Fernhill and Cathkin 523 17.6% 7 Strutherhill 493 21.8% 8 Douglas, Coalburn and Rigside 465 18.4% 9 Whitehill 446 16.9% 10 Laighstonehall 434 17.9% Table 2: Areas with the 10 highest Universal Credit claimant rates Rank Intermediate Area UC Rate Relative to Number UC SL average claimants 1 Burnbank Central and Udston 24.4% 2.09 734 2 Fairhill 24.2% 2.07 312 3 Hillhouse 23.1% 1.98 637 4 Strutherhill 21.8% 1.86 493 5 Blantyre South and Wheatlands 19.6% 1.68 528 6 Spittal 19.4% 1.66 333 7 Low Waters 19.2% 1.64 334 8 Burnhill and Bankhead North 18.8% 1.61 400 9 Douglas, Coalburn and Rigside 18.4% 1.58 465 10 Laighstonehall 17.9% 1.53 434 A Morton / H Rae, CRU,FCR,SLC Note on April 2020 UC and claimant count June 2020 Table 3: Areas with the 10 largest increases in Universal Credit claimants Rank Intermediate Area Absolute Percentage increase increase 1 Burnbank Central and Udston 288 64.6% 2 Westburn and Newton 272