Salisbury charity highlights need for Universal Credit increase
The Trussell Trust is calling for an Essentials Guarantee from the Government
A Salisbury-based charity is calling on the Government to take action after it's research highlighted the need for Universal Credit to increase.
Anti-poverty charity, The Trussell Trust, has found more than half of people receiving Universal Credit ran out of food in January and were unable to afford more.
And more than three-quarters of a million people claiming Universal Credit were forced to visit a local foodbank, while half (52%) are behind on bills and credit commitments and struggling to keep up with them.
As a result, 2.4 million people receiving Universal Credit have fallen into debt because they cannot keep up with essential bills.
Support must cover everyday basics
The charity's unearthing of the devastating realities of living in the UK whilst claiming Universal Credit is leading to calls for the Chancellor to take urgent action to increase support for low-income households by extending the Household Support Fund as soon as possible.
The research, carried out by YouGov on behalf of the Trussell Trust, found a fifth of people (22%) receiving Universal Credit were unable to cook a hot meal as they couldn't afford to use their oven or other utilities.
The impact isn't limited to life at home, as one in four people had to miss an essential appointment thanks to not being able to afford travel costs in the last three months.
The stark truth has prompted renewed calls of an Essentials Guarantee from the charity, which would ensure the basic rate of Universal Credit will always be enough to cover life's essentials and support must remain at or above that level.
The proposal is backed by 100+ organisations across the charity and business sectors, as well as dozens of celebrities and faith leaders who last month signed an open letter demanding politicians address the growing levels of poverty in the UK.
Emma Revie, Chief Executive of the Trussell Trust, said: "This research emphasises the stark truth about poverty across the UK and the government cannot stand by and let this continue. They must act now to implement permanent solutions that alleviate the hardship faced by so many and prevent people from spiralling deeper into poverty.
"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. The Chancellor must commit to extending the Household Support Fund as part of the Spring Budget, which has provided a lifeline for so many people. Cutting off the funding in March would leave a huge gap in support that neither councils nor charities can fill.
"Alongside this, the government must act now to introduce an Essentials Guarantee, ensuring social security provides a protected minimum amount of support so that people can always afford the essentials, such as food and household bills.
"We know that the public is deeply concerned about poverty and hunger, with 72% supporting our call for an Essentials Guarantee and tens of thousands already having signed our petition calling for an Essentials Guarantee. We encourage anyone who believes that Universal Credit should always protect people from going without the essentials to join them.
"Every member of the UK Parliament has to take responsibility for making the changes needed to tackle poverty and to bring about the changes required to move towards ending the need for food banks, for good."