The number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in Kent fell by more than 1,100 last month – but the accuracy of the statistics have been called into question.

The claimant count for the county stood at 17,465 in May, a fall of 1,181, the largest decline since April last year.

However, the Office for National Statistics, which compiles the figures, has quietly revealed the figure is no longer considered a national statistic after a decision by the United Kingdom Statistics Authority following the introduction of the government’s new universal credit system.

More and more Jobcentres across Kent are transfering unemployed people to the government’s new flagship welfare reform.

The single monthly payment for people in or out of work merges some benefits and tax credits including income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income support, child tax credit, working tax credit and housing benefit.

So far five Jobcentres in Kent have began introducing universal credit: Ashford, Gravesend, Maidstone, Sheerness and Sittingbourne.

“We can’t say the introduction of universal credit is affecting the figures but it is a possible explanation...” - David Bradbury, ONS spokesman

Office for National Statistics spokesman David Bradbury said: “We can’t say the introduction of universal credit is affecting the figures but it is a possible explanation.”

Every local authority across Kent recorded a decline in the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Thanet had the largest fall, with 190 people coming off the benefit, bringing the area’s total to 2,528.

Huge declines were also recorded in Dover, down 166 to 1,253, Shepway, down 149 to 1,275, Ashford and Swale, both down 138 to 928 and 1,587 respectively.

Maidstone took 97 people off Jobseeker’s Allowance.

The town’s Jobcentre work services manager Libby Swift said: “The figures are really encouraging.

“We introduced universal credit in March and it has been really positive from the claimant’s point of view because they can work and are not restricted by the number of hours.

“They remain on it, depending on how much they are earning, and are supported by us.”

Significant falls were also seen in Canterbury, down 77 to 1,038, Tonbridge and Malling, down 44 and Dartford, down 40 to 825.

Gravesham, which has just begun introducing universal credit, saw a decline of 37 to 1,307, while Medway, which has the largest number of claimants, fell by just 36 to 3,820.

Tunbridge Wells’ fall of 29 was the lowest in Kent, although it also has the lowest total of 478.

Unemployment fell by 20,000 across the South East to 189,000 in the three months to April, a fall of 9.7%.

The unemployment rate in the South East was the lowest in the UK at 4.1%. Its claimant count rate was also the UK’s lowest at 1.2%.

Nationally, the number of people out of work fell by 43,000 to 1.81 million. The national jobless rate was 5.5%, its lowest level since August 2008.