MORE ULSTER FAMILIES TURNING TO FOOD BANKS

Charity’s fears on changes to State benefits

ULSTER food banks have seen a jump in handouts – and it is feared the problem will get worse thanks to ongoing benefit system changes.

A charity said between April 1 and September 30 it distributed 13,851 emergency supplies, an 8% increase on the same period last year.

But it warned its facilities “could struggle to meet demand” as a controversial welfare scheme, which has seen people in Britain waiting six weeks to get money, is unveiled over two years.

Trussell Trust NI chief Tony Graham said it is “still seeing increasing demand by the inadequacy of income levels and issues with benefit payments, and this is ahead of the full Universal Credit rollout”.

He added: “Food banks in Scotland and England are sharing serious concerns about the effect of the six-week wait, poor administration and inability of the advance payment system to support everyone on no income. We must act to ensure the story is different in Northern Ireland.”

The charity said it is concerned the situation will worsen in the lead-up to Christmas when demand for meals traditionally spikes. It added: “Analysis elsewhere in the UK shows food banks in areas of full rollout for six months or more have seen a 30% average increase.”

The charity called on the Government to address problems over the six-week delay and wants previous benefits continuing until the new one is in place. SDLP councillor Paul Mccusker, who volunteers at the soup kitchen at St Patrick’s Church in North Belfast, hit out at Tory changes to the benefits system.

He added: “All the evidence suggests the introduction of Universal Credit in new communities is swiftly followed by hardship for struggling families.

“The simple truth is Universal Credit is a poverty charter that continues to inflict unnecessary pain on those least able to bare further financial stress.

“For the Government to continue to duck and dive on this issue is incredible.

“The reason for the rising use of food banks isn’t ‘complex’, it’s very simple – when people don’t have enough money to provide for their family, they rely on the emergency food supplies provided by local volunteers.

“This issue demands the restoration of power-sharing institutions.”

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