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The Department for Work and Pensions has denied there is a link between Universal Credit and mental health problems.

It was responding to new research suggesting that the new benefit has caused a rise in anxiety and depression among claimants.

The roll-out of the new combined benefit has led to a 6.6 per cent increase in psychological distress among its recipients - equivalent to approximately 63,674 people feeling an impact, according to figures published in medical journal The Lancet.

The data suggests that more than 21,000 of these people may have become clinically depressed.

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In a statement, the DWP said: "This research does not prove that people are experiencing distress due to the design of Universal Credit.

"People coming to the jobcentre are often doing so at a difficult time in their lives, and there is a range of support available for those with mental health conditions.

"We know that the vast majority of people on Universal Credit are satisfied with their experience."

The issue was raised further in the House of Lords this week when the Government was urged to carry out its own assessment of the possible link between Universal Credit and mental illness.

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DWP minister Baroness Stedman-Scott told the House: "We often find that people experience debt and mental health issues that existed prior to claiming Universal Credit.

"We think that attempting to make an accurate assessment could be difficullt - but not impossible."

She added that 11 jobcentres were introducing measures for those on benefits who have health conditions, including 'quiet sessions' for claimants who can't usually cope with coming in for appointments.

But campaigners want far more to be done.

The latest research published in The Lance concluded that Universal Credit had led to an increase in mental health problems among unemployed claimants, and could have "major implications for the nation's health."

Professor Dame Margaret Whitehead, co-author of the report, has called on the Government to make changes to the system.

The University of Liverpool academic said: "Given the mounting evidence of substantial mental health harms related to Universal Credit, it is crucial that the Government conducts a robust health impacts assessment of all welfare reforms.

"With nearly two thirds of households in the UK receiving some kind of welfare benefit, any changes to the welfare system - even those with small individual effects - could have major implications for the nation's health."

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Researchers analysed 197,111 interviews with 52,187 people of working age, between 2009 and 2018.

They then compared changes in psychological distress between people who were eligible for Universal Credit, and those who were either in work or retired.

One charity said the research shows there "is nothing compassionate or just about the roll-out of Universal Credit".

Iain Porter, policy and partnerships manager at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: "Delays in payments, the complexity of the claiming process and the unpredictability of financial support is forcing too many people into a corner, leaving them facing impossible situations."

The news comes after the family of one man, who starved to death after his benefits were cut, launched legal action against the DWP.

Errol Graham died aged 57 in 2018, eight months after he stopped receiving employment support allowance and housing benefit.

His daughter-in-law Alison Turner said: "The Government owes it to Errol, his family, and the country to explain why the DWP has repeatedly failed to learn from these tragedies over many years.

"In Errol's memory, I am determined to fight for change so that no more families have to live through the horror we have."

A DWP spokesman said: "Our sympathies are with Mr Graham's family.

"It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."