Research by YouGov found that nearly half of working households who were in receipt of Universal Credit (49%) ran out of food and didn’t have enough money to buy more in the past month.
The research also found that in the last three months people claiming Universal Credit were over four times more likely to skip meals (40% vs 9%) and be unable to cook hot food (21% vs 5%) than the wider population who are not claiming any benefits.
Disabled families receiving the benefit are nearly twice as likely to go without other essentials so they can afford food than non-disabled families (41% vs 25%).
The situation is getting worse with more people claiming Universal Credit accessing a food bank in the last 30 days compared with the same period last year (11% vs 8%).
The Trussell Trust says it expects many more people to be forced to access food banks this winter and is calling on the UK Government to introduce an Essentials Guarantee so the basic rate of Universal Credit is always enough to cover life’s essentials and support can never be pulled below that level.
Nikki, a mum who receives Universal Credit and was supported by her local food bank, said: “Winter is coming and my bills are only going to go up, but social security payments will stay the same. I just don’t know how they expect people to survive. When you’re having to live on a pittance, it makes you not want to be here. My kids have never gone to bed without meals, but I have so they can eat.”