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More than 94,000 people are now receiving Universal Credit in the North East, figures reveal.

Figures from the Department for Work and Pensions showed 74,798 were receiving Universal Credit in December 2018 compared to 94, 381 in June 2018.

It comes as charity Turn2Us reports a 230% increase in people asking for help and calls for improvements, but the DWP says it is a 'force for good' and supporting those in unemployed, low paid or unable to work.

Sunderland and Northumberland have seen the biggest increase in the number of people claiming the benefit this year.

Northumberland has seen an extra 5,309 people moved onto the benefit, up from 2,377 claimants to 7,686.

In Sunderland, 13,499 people have been moved onto Universal Credit, up from 8,544.

The DWP started to roll out the full Universal Credit in the city in July last year.

In North Tyneside there's now 8, 235 people claiming, 8, 217 in South Tyneside and 11, 187 in Gateshead.

County Durham has the highest number of claimants, with 25,457 people on it, and Newcastle has 20,100.

The figures come as a report revealed the chaos and misery around Universal Credit has hardly begun, with another 175,000 people in the region still claiming older benefits and will be moved onto Universal Credit in the coming years.

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New benefit claimants now receive Universal Credit instead of benefits such as Housing Benefit, Employment Support Allowance, Jobseeker's Allowance, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit and Income Support.

MPs say people are losing an average of £59 a week or around £3,000 per year after being moved onto Universal Credit, and pushing people into poverty.

ChronicleLive has reported on numerous cases of people struggling to survive after being moved to Universal Credit, including Darryl Nicholson, 47, who was left with just £15 per week for food.

Single dad of three, Phillip Herron, of County Durham, took his own life and had just £4.61 in his bank account after waiting weeks for money.

Harry Dent, who lives in Gateshead, ended up in rent arrears and with bailiffs at his door taking his TV, dryer and tablet.

Charity Turn2Us, which provides support to people in financial difficulty, revealed it has seen a 230% increase in the number of North East residents coming for advice.

Matthew Geer, Campaigns Manager at Turn2us, said: “Since the beginning of the rollout, Universal Credit has contributed to a rise of homelessness, foodbank use and debt across the country.

“In the North East alone we have seen a 230% rise of people coming to us for help between 2014/15 and 2017/18, we are in no doubt that Universal Credit has led to hundreds more people using our services.

“Moving forward, we are hopeful that the DWP can make changes that will drastically improve people’s experiences of the benefit, such as eliminating the five week wait, which would be a major change that could prevent more people being sucked into poverty.”

Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd rushed through laws that have seen a change in the way the system will work.

Around 10,000 people will be moved onto Universal Credit in Harrogate and receive 'transitional cash' if the amount of money they get on Universal Credit is less than what they get now.

They will also get access to an extra two weeks of housing benefit and a discretionary hardship fund payment, and an advance payment, Ms Rudd said.

A DWP spokesperson said: “Universal Credit is a force for good, with 2.2 million people now being supported by the benefit.

“It gives people financial help if they’re unemployed, low-paid or unable to work.

“People can get their first payment on day one of their claim as an advance and we continue to make improvements.”