Over half of universal credit recipients have run out of food, survey finds
A shocking 55% of people on universal credit have run out of food in the past month, according to a survey for an anti-poverty charity.
The Trussell Trust found that just over half (52%) of those claiming the benefit are struggling with bills and credit commitments. More than two-fifths (42%) are behind with at least one household bill.
The YouGov research, carried out from January 18 to February 5, revealed that one in eight (12%) had used a food bank in the previous month while 55% had run out of food in the past month and couldn't afford more. More than a fifth (22%) of universal credit recipients had been unable to cook hot food in the past three months as they couldn't afford to use their oven or other utilities.
Just over a quarter (26%) have missed an essential appointment, such as visiting the doctor or travelling to work, because they couldn't afford the cost of transport in the past three months. Some 43% of people reported being unable to keep their home warm this winter.
The Trussell Trust said that temporary measures like the cost-of-living payments have helped people on the lowest incomes but they have only provided short-term respite. The Trussell Trust is telling the UK Government to make sure that the basic amount of universal credit is always enough for what people really need. They say it should never go below what's needed for important things.
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Emma Revie, who runs the Trussell Trust, said: "Food banks do all they can to support people in their communities but charities alone can't take the place of a social security system that should support any of us who have fallen on hard times and need help."
YouGov asked over 1,300 people who get universal credit what they think. James Taylor, from the charity Scope, said: "Life costs a lot more when you're disabled, and many disabled people have no choice but to rely on benefits for income."
He said: "At Scope, we are hearing from disabled people who are going days without eating, using candles instead of lights and rationing the use of wheelchairs to save power."
A Government spokesman said: "We are providing £104 billion in cost-of-living living support worth on average £3,700 per household, including investing over £2 billion into the household support fund to help those in most need, and almost £800 million has been paid out to families with children so far."
"Since 2010 there are 1.7 million fewer people living in absolute poverty, and we know work is the best route out of poverty, so we're going even further, raising the national living wage, cutting national insurance, curbing inflation and investing billions through our back to work plan to break down barriers to work so even more people can secure long-term financial security."
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