THE number of people in Malvern claiming benefits rose by more than 25 per cent in a month.

Figures released earlier this week by the Department of Work and Pensions shows that between April 9 and May 14, the number of people claiming benefits rose from 3,373 to 4,222, a 25.2 per cent increase.

According to the DWP, these figures refer to the number of claimants and not the number of unemployed as they include furloughed and self-employed workers.

This increase is just below the national percentage, which stands at 25.3 per cent. It is more, however, than the West Midlands increase, which was 22.2 per cent.

Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, said: “Because the Government has asked much of the economy to close down, this has had an impact on many of my constituents’ jobs.

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“The Government has taken unprecedented steps to help business and protect jobs and livelihoods during this global pandemic and I am pleased that 10,500 of my constituents are being supported on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and 3,900 have applied for the Self Employed Income Support Scheme.

“Businesses have also received cash grants and the Universal Credit safety net has been boosted.

“Thanks to the difficult steps everyone has taken to reduce transmission, I am pleased to see much of the retail sector reopening and I hope that all this support will help people bridge this difficult economic period.

“I and my casework team have been exceptionally busy helping individuals with the challenges of dealing with the system and if anyone has a specific issue, I urge them to get in touch and I will do my best to help.”

Elsewhere in the county, the number of benefit claimants in Worcester rose by 1,747 in May, compared with the previous month, a 28.6 per cent increase.