More than 14,000 sign up for Universal Credit during coronavirus pandemic
More than 14,000 people in Lincolnshire impacted by the coronavirus crisis have claimed for Universal Credit since the pandemic began.
The latest job centre figures have been released by the Department for Work and Pensions and show how COVID-19 has seen a big increase on the number of claimants.
Universal Credit covers six major benefits and the figures cover those both in and out of work, including self-employed and those who have been furloughed.
Employment advisor at Boston Job Centre Stuart Roberts said support was out there for people who were going through difficult times including help with claims, looking for extra work or even extra training.
More than £80m handed to local businesses during coronavirus pandemic
Photo: stock
More than £80 million has been given to nearly 6,800 businesses across Lincolnshire to help support the local economy against the impact of the coronavirus lockdown.
Lincolnshire’s district councils have been given £192,109,000 by government to support local businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The money was part of a swathe of measures announced by government covering loans, small business grants and grants covering the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.
Today, authorities revealed they had given at least £79,370,000 to 6,768 businesses.
South Holland had not responded at time of publication but had issued £2,460,000 to 231 businesses on April 3.
All Lincolnshire MPs vote for second COVID lockdown
One spoke against but then backed down
| Photo: Adobe Stock
MPs have backed a second four-week lockdown in England which it is hoped will “contain a surge” in COVID cases and protect the NHS in the run-up to winter.
A total of 516 MPs voted for the latest measures with 38 marked up in opposition.
All of Greater Lincolnshire’s Conservative MPs voted in favour of the lockdown, with Lincoln MP Karl McCartney voting by proxy through Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew.
Gainsborough’s MP Sir Edward Leigh was the only Greater Lincolnshire MP to speak in the three hour debate.
Lincolnshire councils and coronavirus: Meetings cancelled and older councillors at risk
Councils across Lincolnshire could soon start to feel the strain of the COVID-19 outbreak, with some already postponing meetings.
The latest considerations by government could also see some councils lose a number of older members temporarily. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told BBC Radio 4 that over-70s could be asked to stay at home in the coming weeks.
As of Monday, the number of reported COVID-19 cases in the UK stood at 1,391.
Public Health England has previously reported that 35 people who had contracted the virus had died.
The Government, however, is no longer routinely testing or contract tracing everyone who reports symptoms, so the number is expected to be higher.
It has been quite a year since my election to Parliament for the first time. Who could have predicted that just a few months into 2020 we would be faced with a global pandemic?
A virus we had never even heard of one year ago, has completely changed our lives. The risk of contagion left us disconnected from our families, communities and jobs. It left our local businesses and high streets struggling without customers. Our children and young people have missed some of the most formative experiences of their lives in school and higher education.
They say crisis reveals character. In 2020 we saw Britain’s character of compassion come to the fore. Up and down the country people have gone out of their way to help others and Lincolnshire is certainly no exception.