Salisbury charity reveals two in five people on Universal Credit skipping meals to survive
Calls for government to do more to ease cost of living crisis
Last updated 7th Sep 2022
41% of people claiming Universal Credit (UC) skipped meals over the summer because they couldn't afford to eat according to a survey for the Trussell Trust.
The charity, which runs a network of foodbanks across the country, says 38% had gone a whole day with no food, or just one meal in the last month too.
YouGov surveyed 1,846 UK adults claiming UC between August 10 and 31.
It found a fifth of UC claimants (21%) were unable to cook hot food because they couldn't afford to use the cooker while almost a quarter (23%) have been unable to travel to work or essential appointments because they couldn't afford the cost of public transport or fuel.
Around a third (34%) said they have fallen into debt in the last three months because they could not keep up with essential bills whilst almost two thirds (64%) said they spent the first cost-of-living payment from the Government in July on food.
The Trussell Trust said its network of food banks is providing more help to people compared to before the coronavirus pandemic - the equivalent of a parcel being provided every 13 seconds.
While the charity welcomed the government's £15bn support package in May aimed at helping people pay for essentials, it says these are measures are no longer enough and is calling on the new Prime Minister, Liz Truss to urgently provide more help.
Emma Revie, chief executive at the Trussell Trust, said the charity is "deeply concerned" that 40% of UC recipients are skipping meals to survive.
She said: "It's wrong that people are missing meals and are unable to afford to cook because they are sick or disabled or caring for someone.
"The reality is that, instead of providing a lifeline when our circumstances change, financial support such as Universal Credit is leaving people - 41% of whom are working - without enough income to stay warm, fed and dry.
"It's pushing people to the doors of food banks and that's simply not right. If people are to have enough money to live with dignity, we need strong systems that lift us out of hardship rather than plunging us deeper into poverty."
In her first speech as Prime Minister, Ms Truss acknowledged the economic pressures arising from the energy crisis, but said she is confident that the UK would "ride out the storm" .
She said addressing the cost of living crisis is one of her top priorities and has promised measures to help those struggling.
Plans to freeze energy bills are expected to be announced this week.