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The number of people claiming universal credit (UC) in Britain who are not required to work has risen by more than a million in a year, new figures show.

There were four million people in this category in October, making up almost half (48.7%) of all claimants.

UC is a payment to help with living costs and is available for people in work who are on low incomes, as well as those who are out of work or cannot work.

People in the “no work requirements” bracket can include those in full-time education, over the state pension age, someone with a child aged under one, and tho

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