More people turn to foodbank for help as Universal Credit bites

POVERTY: Crisis as claimants wait weeks for first benefit payment

More than 3,000 emergency food parcels were given to people across Glenrothes in the last financial year.

Glenrothes Foodbank has blamed the introduction of Universal Credit for a 6% increase in demand for help compared to the previous year, when 2,909 threeday supplies were handed out.

Of the 3,096 parcels provided between April 1 2017 and March 31 2018, 1,086 went to children.

Manager Jilly Guild said local people were struggling with continued issues with benefit payments and Universal Credit.

She said Glenrothes Foodbank shared the concerns of other others in full Universal Credit rollout areas, highlighted in a report by the Trussell Trust last week.

Kirkcaldy Foodbank has reported similar issues.

Among the main problems are the adverse impact of new claimants having to wait several weeks for their initial payment and the inability of Universal Credit to cover the cost of living.

As part of a network campaigning for change, the foodbank in Glenrothes is working to offer practical emergency support to help prevent people from going hungry while also participating in vital research and raising awareness of the issues local people are facing.

Ms Guild said no one should need a foodbank’s help.

“We don’t want to be here forever,” she said.

“We want to see an end to local people needing emergency food at all.”

She added: “It doesn’t have to be this way – with a benefits system that catches people before they fall into crisis and secure work that provides people with enough money to cover the cost of essentials, this is possible.

“But until that time, we’ll continue to provide vital support when it matters most.

“We’re dedicated to ensuring that people in our community with no money for food are able to access temporary support and that has only been possible in the last year because of the incredible generosity shown by local people in donating food, time and funds.”

Last week, Kirkcaldy Foodbank said it had recorded its highest level of demand in March, issuing a record 742 food parcels to 1,491 people during that month alone.

We’re dedicated to ensuring that people inour community withno money for food are able to access temporary support. FOODBANK MANAGER JILLY GUILD