Fears over "deluge" of South Yorkshire families needing help with debt
Citizens Advice say it's a "looming problem" during the pandemic
Last updated 1st Apr 2021
South Yorkshire support services are bracing themselves for a "deluge" of families struggling with debt because of the pandemic.
Citizens Advice are warning it's a "looming problem" as people become more reliant on credit to makes ends meet during Covid.
The charity in Sheffield has helped with 9,000 debt issues since last April but is expecting a rise as restrictions are eased because many people haven't yet sought support.
Frances Potter's from Citizen's Advice Sheffield is urging people to access help:
"There were protections put in place for people being chased for debt so it made people, quite understandably, put that issue to the back of their minds so we are worried there are people out there who just aren't coming forward because for one reason or another it's just not come to the top of the list.
"What we know happens in those cicumstances is people juggle stuff - they rob Peter to pay Paul. You can't do that indefinitely so we are concerned that when the protections are lifted and creditors are allowed to chase people again there will be a deluge of people coming forward.
Nearly 3,000 people have contacted Sheffield Citizens Advice about debt since last April, but the charity says that number's more than a third lower than the year before.
They fear there'll be an influx of people needing their help with it when debt gets on top of people as restritions are eased.
Frances says things could become harder:
"As you get closer, more and more scary things come into the offing like the possibility evictions when those are reinstated. It is a normal thing to say I just can't deal with that now - I'm going to put that letter to the side. But just leaving them there piling up doesn't solve the problem.
"We've already seen it gradually start to increase as some creditors are starting to nudge, like the local authorities are having to nudge people about council tax arrears."