Welfare data from the Social Services Department show the number of JobSeeker recipients is largest in Canberra's northern suburbs as coronavirus restrictions hit the economy.

The figures, which show the number of JobSeeker claims waiting to be processed on the last Friday of each month from March to June, show a surge in welfare claims across ACT suburbs.

Among postcodes with the highest numbers of claimants are those for suburbs in west Belconnen and nearer the Belconnen town centre, and for Gungahlin suburbs Casey, Franklin, Palmerston, Ngunnawal and Nicholls.

The postcode for inner-north Canberra suburbs Ainslie, Dickson, Downer, Hackett, Lyneham, O'Connor and Watson had larger volumes of JobSeeker claimants than most other ACT postcodes in the data.

Another postcode, covering Queanbeyan, Googong and other regional communities near the ACT, also had higher claim numbers.

Social Services Department data showed a surge in welfare claims in March and April that tapered off in the next two months, reflecting the impact in Canberra of the extraordinary lockdown measures taken to stop the spread of COVID-19.

The Social Services Department's figures also show that among the ACT's three federal electorates, the northern seat of Fenner covering Belconnen and Gungahlin had the largest growth in JobSeeker recipients during the pandemic.

JobSeeker recipients more than doubled to 4800 in Fenner, while in the inner-north and inner-south seat of Canberra the number more than doubled to 4000, between March 27 and June 26.

The southern electorate of Bean had more than 4200 people on JobSeeker in late June, nearly double the number on March 27.

Peak body the ACT Council of Social Service said the welfare data showed the territory was not immune to the serious economic consequences of COVID-19 and that many in the community were experiencing hardship.

ACTCOSS chief executive Emma Campbell said that since the end of last year, the number of people on JobSeeker and Youth Allowance had more than doubled in the ACT.

"Even before COVID-19, 8.6 per cent of people in the ACT are living below the poverty line; almost 40,000 people live in households that are among Australia's most disadvantaged and over 25,000 people in low-income households are experiencing food stress," she said.

Asked about differences in welfare data between postcodes and electorates, Dr Campbell said the numbers may reflect the disproportionate economic impact of COVID-19 on groups including young people, women and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who were over-represented in hospitality, retail, caring and other service sectors where job losses had been high.

"These numbers also exclude the impact of unemployment on temporary visa holders who do not have access to income support, many who have been left with no income at all," she said.

Data for the ACT in May showed there was only one job vacancy for every four people looking for work, Dr Campbell said.

The federal government's decision to reduce the coronavirus supplement from September 25 would cut $300 per fortnight from the income of a person on JobSeeker, with the prospect of a further reduction after Christmas, she said.

"The higher rate of JobSeeker and Youth Allowance has allowed thousands of Canberrans who have lost their job to pay heating bills, put fresh fruit and vegetables on the table and buy warm clothes for their kids," Dr Campbell said.

"This reduction will leave thousand of people struggling to meet basic costs including rent and medical bills."

Hawker resident Josh Glass has been on JobSeeker (previously Newstart) for three years and for the majority of that time was unable to secure employment beyond the occasional casual position.

He currently works casually at a factory in Queanbeyan and also receives a reduced amount of JobSeeker depending on his earnings.

Mr Glass, a single dad, said the coronavirus pandemic had actually brought a period of relative stability to his financial situation as his factory job had continued and the COVID-19 supplement made living more comfortable.

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"Before this, every time you left the house you were scared that if anything went wrong it could ruin your whole month," he said.

"A parking ticket could set you back weeks.

"It just makes everything difficult, socialising is difficult, recreational activities can be impossible.

"And the motivation just isn't there. The constant rejection from jobs, after putting together a really good application and you don't get the job.

"You just sort of give up."

Mr Glass said before the pandemic there was already a lot of competition for jobs and he was concerned this would only get worse as unemployment continued to grow.

"I don't think the supply [of jobs] will meet demand," he said.

"There's going to be a critical mass of people struggling to get by."