The Cheshire East neighbourhoods where most people are on Universal Credit

More than 30,000 people are on Universal Credit in Cheshire East – with one in five residents claiming the benefit in some parts of the borough, latest data shows. The overall figure works out at seven per cent of the population for the local authority area.

Crewe Central has the highest percentage (21.4 per cent) of claimants followed by the town’s Crewe St Barnabas ward (20.5 per cent). In both areas that works out at one in five claimants.

Crewe South and Crewe West along with Macclesfield Hurdsfield completes the top five neighbourhoods with the highest percentage of residents on Universal Credit. Prestbury had the lowest rate in the borough with just 1.6 per cent of people claiming.

The latest figures, as of the end of October, come from the Department for Work and Pensions. In total, 30,324 of the borough’s residents are claiming Universal Credit out of a population of 406,527.

What is Universal Credit and who is eligible to claim?

Universal Credit has replaced these benefits for most people:

You may be able to get Universal Credit if you’re on a low income or need help with your living costs. You could be:

• out of work
• working (including self-employed or part time)
• unable to work, for example because of a health condition

To claim you must:

• live in the UK
• be aged 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you’re 16 to 17)
• be under State Pension age
• have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments

Click here for more information.

Here are the areas with the most Universal Credit claimants in Cheshire East:

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