A family in Northern Ireland has been forced to use the hob on their cooker as a source of heat, a charity has revealed.
Research from Action for Children paints a "sobering picture" of the impact of the £20-a-week cut to Universal Credit on some of the UK’s poorest families amidst the soaring cost of living crisis.
An analysis of the charity’s Crisis Fund that helps families in financial difficulty reveals that in the six months since the cut, more than half of the grants issued were for families on Universal Credit, suggesting the benefit is "failing to meet basic living costs".
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The evidence from Action for Children’s frontline staff about the impact of deprivation on children across Northern Ireland was "stark", a spokesperson said.
One worker observed the family "trying to heat the room by turning on the hob".
Many workers describe parents skipping meals so their children had enough food or worrying about debts as they were unable to pay bills, while others were unable to afford new school uniforms for their children - or even drive to work because of the cost of the car.
Explaining why she thought families were struggling so much, one worker said: "Rising childcare … and other essential living costs have made it impossible for parents to work, especially single parents. Our funds are greatly appreciated by anyone who has received them … and [they have] eased a great financial burden, but only for a short period."
Lorna Ballard, national director, Action for Children Northern Ireland, said: "The worst pain and misery of the cost-of-living crisis is being felt by children in low income families, yet the Government is refusing to target help for these children or accept that it needs to rethink its huge cut to Universal Credit.
"The levels of severe and persistent financial hardship our services are seeing are among the worst they can remember and are robbing too many children of the bright futures they deserve. Whilst our Crisis Fund can help to relieve some of these pressures, it cannot address the underlying causes driving rising deprivation or offer a solution for families bearing the brunt of this deep-rooted cost of living crisis."
Sheena Mcmullen, Campaigns, Advocacy and Policy advisor, Action for Children Northern Ireland, said: "We desperately need a cross-government plan to eradicate child poverty across the UK, but we know there are also things the NI Executive and Assembly could do to help families with the cost of living, and specifically target help to children in low-income families.
"The Anti-Poverty Strategy Expert Advisory Panel published their report in Mar 2021 and a co-design Group developed important recommendations for local policy action, including introducing a Child Payment of £20/week.
"Evidence is clear that this payment for families eligible would lift 27,000 children out of poverty and secure a historic reduction of the 1 in 4 children currently experiencing stark inequalities as a result of poverty and the growing pressures of the cost-of-living crisis.
"The current lack of Assembly and Executive is damaging much needed policy progress in this area, and we would urge all parties to consider carefully how many families can stretch much further without long-term and locally targeted policies to protect our most vulnerable through a crisis beyond any individual's control. There is so much more our government can do in these tough times to help prevent those with the least from continuing to suffer the most."
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