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There are now thousands of people claiming universal credit in Wales.

Figures published by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) reveal the exact number of people claiming the new benefit in each local authority in Wales, and they vary greatly between areas.

Universal credit - which is the biggest change to the welfare state in a generation - was fully rolled out to all Jobcentres in Wales in December to replace six other benefits with a single monthly payment .

The roll-out for new claimants and for people with altered circumstances started in Wales in April, 2017, in Flintshire , with new areas being added ever since and has now reached all of the country’s 59 Jobcentres.

The latest figures, published by the DWP, show that, in December, there were 76,072 people claiming universal credit across Wales, up from 68,291 in November.

From September last year, there has been an increase of nearly 20,000 people as there were 57,368 UC claimants in that month.

By the end of the full roll-out - scheduled for 2023 - Citizens Advice estimates that more than 400,000 households in Wales will be in receipt of the new benefit. We spoke to lots of them recently for a special report .

People in the system claim it has been beset by problems - and they have been pushed into poverty right from the start. One common theme is that families have had to go for five weeks until the first payment comes through.

Research shows food bank usage rises in areas where universal credit has been rolled out . According to the Trussell Trust, food banks see a 52% increase in demand 12 months after rollout.

A spokesman for the DWP said: “Universal Credit is a force for good, helping people into work quicker and stay in work longer.

"Wales now has a lower unemployment rate then the UK average. Jobcentre staff are committed to ensuring that people get the right support at all times, including over Christmas.

“People can claim up to 100% advance payments from day one and budgeting support is also available.”

No figures have yet been released for January, but here is the data broken down by local authority:

Blaenau Gwent

There were 1,927 people claiming universal credit in Blaenau Gwent in December, up from 1,598 in November. Out of the 1,927 people, 723 were in employment.

The benefits change was rolled out in the area in July last year and Jessica, a single mum in her thirties, is one of the people who is struggling under universal credit.

Five years ago, she was working in Cardiff , bringing home £2,000 a month. But things took an unexpected turn four months ago when the relationship with her husband broke down, leaving her with no income, a mortgage and a young child.

Already in £15,000 of debt, she told us about her worries of losing her home - it's a choice between paying her mortgage and keeping her daughter warm and properly fed. You can read her story here .

Bridgend

A total of 3,772 people were on the new benefit in Bridgend last December, compared to 3,269 the previous month. Out of the 3,772, figures show 1,371 people were in employment.

Caerphilly

Having been rolled out to the area in May, 2018, by December there were 3,166 people claiming universal credit in Caerphilly , up from 2,351 in November.

Out of the 3,166 people, 1,088 were in employment.

Watch Giovanni Scaccia talk about his experience with universal credit:

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Carmarthenshire

A total of 778 people were on universal credit in Carmarthenshire last December, down from 780 people the previous month. Out of the 778, figures show 222 people were in employment.

Some job centres in Carmarthenshire were among the last ones to join the universal credit live service last month. These included Ammanford , Carmarthen and Llanelli .

Ceredigion

(Image: National Assembly for Wales / Senedd Research Blog)

There were 240 people claiming universal credit in Ceredigion in December, up from 215 in November. Out of the 240 people, 80 were in employment.

The benefits change was rolled out in Aberystwyth and Cardigan in December .

Swansea

(Image: www.adrianwhitephotography.co.uk)

A year after it was introduced in the area , there were 9,494 people on universal credit in Swansea last December, with 3,380 of those in employment. This was up from 8,910 in November.

In December, we told the story of a single mum facing having to survive Christmas with little over £20 because of a mistake with her universal credit payment.

The woman, who we called Helen, found out she would only receive £598 this month, instead of her normal allowance of £998.

After paying her rent, which is £575 a month, the mum had just £24 to live on until mid-January.

Cardiff

(Image: Rob Browne)

A total of 11,085 people were claiming universal credit in the Welsh capital last December, up from 10,132 in November. Out of the 11,085 people, 4,017 people were in employment.

It was introduced in Cardiff in February, 2018 , but grandmother Vivien Soloman said she spent her days in tears because of it.

Carer Vivien Soloman, 60, from Tremorfa , was told she could not receive anything as her partner's pension counted towards the maximum household income they were entitled to under the new benefit.

Despite being signed off work after breaking her wrist in April last year and suffering from stress, she was left with no income. This is her story .

Conwy

There were 2,768 people claiming universal credit in Conwy in December, up from 2,339 in November. Out of the 2,768 people, 969 were in employment.

The benefits change was rolled out to Rhyl job centre in April, 2018, and, in June, 2018, it was introduced in Colwyn Bay and Llandudno .

Denbighshire

In Denbighshire, 2,724 people were on universal credit in December, with 891 of those people being in employment. This was up from 2,469 in November.

Flintshire

(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

A total of 6,099 people were claiming universal credit in Flintshire last December, up from 5,864 in November. Out of the 6,099 people, 2,537 people were in employment.

Flintshire was among the first areas in Wales where the roll-out for new claimants or people with altered circumstances started, back in April, 2017.

Gwynedd

There were 551 people claiming universal credit in Gwynedd in December, up from 542 in November. Out of the 551 people, 197 were in employment.

Anglesey

In Anglesey , 337 people were on universal credit in December, with 100 of those people being in employment. This was down from 341 in November.

Merthyr Tydfil

(Image: Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

A total of 1,670 people were claiming universal credit in Merthyr Tydfil last December, up from 1,374 in November. Out of the 1,670 people, 525 people were in employment.

The benefits change was first introduced in the area in March 2018 .

Monmouthshire

There were 1,328 people claiming universal credit in Monmouthshire in December, up from 1,148 in November. Out of the 1,328 people, 497 were in employment.

Neath Port Talbot

In Neath Port Talbot , 6,448 people were on universal credit in December, with 2,326 of those people being in employment. This was up from 6,130 in November.

The major benefits change is having a massive impact in the county according to a senior housing officer at the local authority, since it was introduced in the area in October, 2017.

That same month, we told the story of Geraldine Hill , who survived for more than two decades on benefits without falling into debt.

The grandmother - who is unable to work due to anxiety, depression and lung disease - single-handedly brought up three children with little to get by on. But following a switch to universal credit, she had to turn to food banks, couldn't afford to watch TV and was left in hundreds of pounds of debt.

Newport

A total of 7,138 people were claiming universal credit in Newport last December, up from 6,764 in November. Out of the 7,138 people, 2,673 people were in employment.

Kath Hopkins, of support group Pobl, based in Newport, said certain groups of people were worse off under the new system and gave the example that, under the benefits that preceded UC, if you were under 25 and had a child, your payment was upgraded to an over-25 allowance. That doesn't happen with universal credit.

One person struggling with this particular rule is 20-year-old Charlotte Spring , from Newport, a single parent studying full-time in university. She also has to deal with the fact that her student loan means she gets less money from universal credit, £140 a month.

Pembrokeshire

(Image: PA)

There were 1,728 people claiming universal credit in Pembrokeshire in December, up from 1,234 in November. Out of the 1,728 people, 637 were in employment.

Powys

A total of 984 people were claiming universal credit in Powys last December, up from 654 in November. Out of the 984 people, 410 people were in employment.

This comes just over a year after the change was first introduced, in October, 2018.

Rhondda Cynon Taf

In Rhondda Cynon Taf , 2,061 people were on universal credit in December, with 687 of those people being in employment. This was up from 1,253 in November, which marked a year since universal credit was rolled out to the area.

Watch Alun describe how a universal credit mistake has impacted his life:

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Torfaen

There were 5,236 people claiming universal credit in Torfaen in December, up from 5,104 in November. Out of the 5,236 people, 2,031 were in employment.

Having had universal credit since July, 2017, Torfaen is one of the areas to have had the benefits change for quite some time.

Vale of Glamorgan

A total of 1,215 people were claiming universal credit in the Vale of Glamorgan last December, up from 759 in November. Out of the 1,215 people, 444 people were in employment.

Universal credit was rolled out in the the job centres in Barry and Penarth in October, 2018.

Wrexham

In Wrexham , 5,337 people were on universal credit in December, with 2,023 of those people being in employment. This was up from 5,062 in November.

Universal credit was rolled out in the Wrexham job centre in October 2017.