THE unprecedented increase of almost a million new universal credit (UC) applicants during the coronavirus outbreak is putting a massive strain on benefit workers, PCS warned today.

The 950,000 people applying for much-needed support reflects a fall in income and a rise in unemployment as firms go bust or lay off staff because they cannot wait for the government retention scheme to begin making payments.

Typically there are only 100,000 applicants for UC in a two-week period.