How many people in the North East will receive benefit boosts as pensions and Universal Credit rise by 10%

Tens of thousands of benefits claimants in the North East have been boosted by an increase just below the current rate of inflation.

That means a total of 67,520 people across the region will see their state pensions, housing benefits, Universal Credit, and other benefit payments rise by 10.1%- which was the consumer prices index (CPI) measure of inflation in September.

But while that figure has been used to calculate inflation, the CPI hit 11.1% in October, higher than analysts were expecting and the highest rate in 40 years.

Read more: Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement at a glance as he announces tax rises

In the North East, Middlesbrough - where six per cent of adults between the age of 16 and 64 are in receipt of benefits - will receive the greatest boost, followed by South Tyneside (5.5%). Residents of Newcastle upon Tyne will see the next largest boost, with 4.3% of adults in the same age bracket in receipt.

On the other end of the spectrum, Northumberland will see the least in terms of assistance - with just 3.1% of adults between 16 and 64 in receipt of benefits, just below County Durham, with 3.3% respectively.

As well as this, extra payments are coming - £900 for those on means-tested benefits, £300 for pensioner households and £150 for those on disability benefits.

Here's a full breakdown of the amount of people in each district of the North East set to receive benefit boosts.

Local authority // Number of claimants // Percentage of adults aged 16-64 receiving benefits:

• Middlesbrough // 5,295 // 6
• South Tyneside // 5,090 // 5.5
• Hartlepool // 2,890 // 5
• Sunderland // 7,835 // 4.5
• Newcastle upon Tyne // 8,985 // 4.3
• Darlington // 2,800 // 4.3
• Gateshead // 5,375 // 4.2
• County Durham // 10,810 // 3.3
• Redcar and Cleveland // 3,280 // 4
• Stockton-on-Tees // 4,880 // 4
• North Tyneside // 4,330 // 3.4
• Northumberland // 5,950 // 3.1

Read next:

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• North East unemployment falls to record low for second month running

• Cost of living map reveals hundreds of real life stories of suffering in North East

• Gateshead mum claiming Universal Credit as people 'can't afford' to pay her for life coaching

• DWP can give up to £812 for essentials like rent and clothes if you are on specific benefits