The Trussell Trust has today published new research that reveals the devastating consequences of the inadequacy of Universal Credit across the UK. The anti-poverty charity is urging the Chancellor to take urgent action to increase long-term support for people struggling to get by on Universal Credit and commit to extending the Household Support Fund as soon as possible.
The research, conducted by YouGov on behalf of the Trussell Trust, revealed that 780,000 people (12%) claiming Universal Credit have been forced to use a food bank in the last month (Dec 23/Jan 24), and more than half (55%) ran out of food in the last month and couldn’t afford more. Also, in the last three months, 22% of people claiming Universal Credit were unable to cook hot food as they couldn’t afford to use their oven or other utilities.
- 55% of people receiving Universal Credit ran out of food last month and couldn’t afford more.
- 780,000 people claiming Universal Credit have needed to use a food bank in the last month.
- Half (52%) of people claiming Universal Credit are either behind on bills and credit commitments or are finding it a constant struggle to keep up with them.
- 2.4 million people claiming Universal Credit (37%) have fallen into debt because they couldn’t keep up with essential bills.
The survey found that 3.4 million people claiming Universal Credit (52%) have either fallen behind on bills and credit commitments or are finding it a constant struggle to keep up with them. Two in five people (42%) are behind on one or more household bill.
The impact of inadequate Universal Credit stretches even further, with one in four (26%) people missing an essential appointment, such as visiting the doctor or travelling to work, because they couldn’t afford the cost of transport in the last three months. In the same period approximately 2.7 million people (42%) had to skip meals to keep up with other essential costs like utilities or rent. Two in five (43%) people reported being unable to keep their home warm this winter.