30 January 2024 , 09:27
856
0
The UK is grappling with a 34% surge in demand for financial help, as the cost-of-living crisis and rising debt levels take their toll.
The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) reported that in the first week of 2024, there was a significant increase in visits to the MoneyHelper's Money Troubles pages. The website saw a 37% jump in unique visitors and a 48% increase in page views.
MoneyHelper, a government-backed service, offers free advice on a range of financial topics. The most visited pages were "dealing with debt" and "help with the cost of living". Other popular pages included "emergency help with money and food" and "dealing with county court judgments (CCJs)".
Search terms like "scams", "debt relief order", "bankruptcy", and "breathing space" were also frequently used. Charlotte Jackson, head of guidance services at MaPS, warned: "People up and down the country are set to face some difficult times this year. As these figures show, for many these have already begun."
"When things get tough, we all need to know there's somewhere to turn. If you're worried you can't make ends meet, your debts are starting to spiral or you need help with important money decisions, we offer that first port of call. Our free MoneyHelper service offers in-depth guides, dedicated tools and information on specialist help so you can get the support you need quickly."
Killer dances in his victim's house with twerking model who later turned on him
"Money troubles negatively affect your life in lots of ways, but the solution begins with that initial step. I'd urge anyone who's in difficulty to start that journey today." The increase in demand for financial assistance has continued this year. There was a pronounced spike in numbers with a 23% rise in visits in the first two weeks of January as compared to the two weeks before Christmas Eve.
The total number of visitors also surged by 25% (18,384 as against 14,719), and there was a noticeable 34% leap in page views (41,490 as compared to 30,917).
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]