New UK benefits claims hit 1.2 million as virus-hit economy suffers

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's government has now received 1.2 million new claims for welfare payments since March 16, about eight times normal levels, as the coronavirus outbreak hits the economy.Last week, the government put the figure for new Universal Credit requests at around 950,000 people.The payments include support for people on low incomes working fewer hours as well as people who lose their jobs.There are normally around 100,000 applicants per two-week period. As the coronavirus..