Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
VIRUS HITS POOREST HARDEST
Struggle to pay for food & bills Stress levels soar in lockdown
LIVING standards of the UK’S poorest families have been severely damaged during the coronavirus crisis, a grim report has revealed.
Low-income households are also battling high stress levels, according to the study by the Child Poverty Action Group and the Church of England.
The report, Poverty in the Pandemic: The Impact of Coronavirus on Lowincome Families and Children, is based on a survey of 285 hard-up households with children eligible for free school meals, plus 21 in-depth interviews.
About eight out of 10 of those questioned admitted they were in a worse financial position than before the Covid-19 outbreak struck in March.
Half were much worse off because incomes dropped, while costs climbed. Some admitted crying at night because they were mired in poverty.
Nearly nine in 10 were spending substantially more on food, electricity and other essentials because they were stuck at home much more. Some 83% said the crisis hampered their ability to pay for food, 76% said it hit their ability to pay utility bills and 47% their ability to afford housing costs.
Tragically, some 53% said it hampered their ability to pay for child-related costs such as nappies, baby products and children’s clothes.
Alison Garnham, of the CPAG, said: “Low-income parents have been living under a cloud of anxiety in lockdown, trying to find money for family basics as their costs have been rising. That’s taken a very heavy toll on the health and wellbeing of the worst-affected parents and children.”
The majority of those questioned cited problems with the welfare system. They included:
Benefit levels being too low to cover basic living costs, especially for those who had previously been working
The long wait and extra delays in receiving the first Universal Credit payment and uncertainty on amounts
The impact of the benefit cap on families who had been furloughed at less than their full pay
Difficulty knowing where to look for advice on benefits and other support.
About two-thirds surveyed had been working before the pandemic or had a partner who had been working.
Most of that group had either lost their job or seen a significant drop in their income, including furloughed workers on less than full pay.
Experts fear more rising poverty as the Treasury begins to wind down the furlough scheme from next month.
The authors of yesterday’s 54-page report called on the Government to raise child benefit by £10 a week and add an extra £10 a week to the child element within UC and child tax credits.
They also want free school meals extended to all families who receive UC or Working Tax Credit, and the benefit cap scrapped – or suspended during the pandemic. Ms Garnham added: “As the Government’s Covid-19 emergency support schemes are tapered away in the coming months, more help will be needed for struggling families who have lost jobs or taken income drops.”
The number of people claiming unemployment benefits surged to 2.7 million between March and July, and
CHILD POVERTY ACTION GROUP
the number of employees on payrolls fell by 730,000. Earlier this month, the Bank of England warned joblessness would double to 2.5 million.
Demand for foodbank parcels in April rocketed. Centres in the Independent Food Aid Network reported a 175% increase in demand, while the UK’S biggest foodbank network, the Trussell Trust, reported an 89% rise.
The Trust’s Garry Lemon said last night: “The Government must ensure support is in place so people aren’t locked into poverty this winter...”
Households also revealed added stress fuelled by the crisis. Nearly a quarter (23%) experienced “relationship issues”, 49% suffered physical or mental health problems, and 45% took on extra caring responsibilities
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “Ten years of cuts by the Conservatives have taken their toll on low-income families.
“This pandemic must not be the catalyst for another decade of hardship.”
The Department for Work and Pensions said: “We have injected more than £9.3billion into the welfare system, including increasing UC by up to £1,040 a year, to help those in most need.”