Virus forces families to the brink

Almost a third of Scots families on Universal Credit and Child Tax Credits have had to rely on help from charities for food or children’s clothes over the past two months, new research by Save the Children reveals.

Four in ten low income families say they have been left even worse off as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, with 53 per cent of those polled reporting that they have sunk into debt in the past two months.

Almost half - 42 per cent - of all those surveyed said they are in rent arrears or behind on household bills.

Research by Save the Children and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in June found that 71 per cent of Scottish families had to cut back on food and other essentials when the pandemic hit.

The new figures suggest things have not improved for many families, with 27 per cent reporting that they’re finding it even harder to afford food now than in April.

Save the Children is warning that the winter will be more difficult than ever for many families, with an inevitable rise in heating and other household costs, further restrictions and local lockdowns and the prospect of further job losses increasing the pressure on already overstretched household budgets.

Less than half of those polled thought the UK Government was doing enough to help low income families like them. This figure fell among those polled after the UK government announced its Job Support Scheme.

Parents surveyed spoke of the ‘shame’of not being able to provide for their children, while others worried their children were being set back because they couldn’t afford laptops or other learning materials.

The charity is now calling for the UK and Scottish Governments to provide stronger income lifelines for families.

The highest levels of poverty in Scotland are amongst families with young children.

The charity is urging Scottish Government to explore avenues providing an income lifeline for school-aged children before the full roll out of the Scottish Child Payment in 2022.

This could include using local government channels, such as school clothing grants or free school meals to get money to families.

Claire Telfer, Save the Children’s head of Scotland, said:“With winter on its way and more job losses expected, things are about to get even more difficult for Scots families still reeling from the cost of lockdown.

“Parents tell us they’re barely surviving.

“They’re already having to go without meals or electricity when their money runs out, and many are worried that the cost of heating their homes through the winter will push them into even more debt.”