Benefits claimants are being invited to apply for jobs handing out Universal Credit as staff deal with an “unprecedented” number of claims.

And staff at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have been asked to refer friends and family for temporary roles as they work to process an “extraordinary” number of benefits applications.

Almost 950,000 claims for Universal Credit (UC) have been processed since March 16 as the effects of Britain’s coronavirus lockdown begins to bite.

The department has admitted that it is currently operating with “higher than normal” sickness rates as staff are sent home to self isolate either because of underlying health issues, because they are displaying symptoms of the virus, or for unrelated reasons.

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Bosses say they are taking “urgent action to boost capacity” and have moved 10,000 existing staff to help on the frontline.

Claimants are being invited to apply for temporary roles with the DWP and staff are being asked to refer family and friends for jobs.

Many colleagues are working additional hours to support customers, the DWP said.

Cleaning across all DWP offices has also been “stepped up” in line with Public Health England advice, they added.

A DWP spokesperson said: “While operating with higher than normal sickness rates, we’ve processed 950,000 Universal Credit applications between 16 and 31 March and we are working hard to ensure we continue to support those who need it.

“For context, we’d expect to process 100,000 claims in a comparable period during normal times. We recognise this has been an extraordinary effort from our dedicated staff.

“We’re delivering in these unprecedented times and are taking urgent action to boost capacity – we’ve moved 10,000 existing staff to help on the frontline and we’re recruiting more.”

They added: “We have started rolling out direct recruitment for temporary roles this week.

(Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)

“To increase staff numbers as quickly as possible we are inviting claimants to apply, as well as inviting staff to refer family and friends who they think are a good fit for the role.

“DWP staff can refer friends and family who have the skills for the job and are able to take up roles within four weeks.

“CVs will be reviewed and we are seeing referrals include people who have worked for DWP in the past.

“We have also stepped up cleaning across all of our offices in line with Public Health England advice.

“Hot water and soap are available in all our offices and by the end of next week, all of our sites will have hand sanitisers.”

Benefits sanctions have been suspended for three months to allow stretched DWP staff to focus on processing new claims.

Reviews and reassessments have also been suspended for three months, the DWP confirmed this week.

Those claiming UC and other benefits who fail to look for work have been given a 90-day grace period during the outbreak.

Work and Pension secretary Thérèse Coffey said that for the next three months, the DWP will not be “checking conditionality compliance regarding looking for and being available for work”, and that “no sanctions should be applied for that reason”.

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Claimants currently have to wait five weeks for a first payment after applying for the benefit, but can take out an advanced loan to help.

Around a quarter, 70,000 out of around 270,000 Universal Credit applications in one week, applied for an advance payment.

The Salvation Army has claimed that this could plunge thousands of people into debt during the virus outbreak.

Rebecca Keating, the Salvation Army’s director of employment plus, said: “Thousands of people who never thought they would have to rely on state support are now making a Universal Credit claim.

“Many of these will be forced to take out the bridging loan which will just move their money problems five weeks down the line.”

A DWP spokesman said: “Advances allow people to access money within the first few days of their claim.

"There are safeguards in place to ensure repayments are affordable.”