A mum who had to sell her daughter's bike just to pay the bills. A dad who fears he won't able to afford to see his family this Christmas. And the school cook so terrified of her next energy bill she no longer uses her oven.
They're just some of the stories contained in a new report which lays bare the harsh reality of the cost-of-living crisis. Following its release 56 faith groups, charities and politicians, including Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, have called on the Government to help tackle the problems facing the UK's poorest families.
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The report includes the story of Lowri (not her real name), a 51-year-old who lives in Lancashire, looking after her dad and daughter. She lost her job with an events company at the start of the pandemic and says she now struggles to survive on Universal Credit.
"I have spent the last five years living in survival mode, just about surviving each day, worrying about money constantly," she told the report. "I am emotionally and mentally exhausted living like this. It is not living, merely existing."
Lowri recently had to sell her daughter's bike to pay the bills. It left feeling her 'like a failure as a mother'.
"She has grown out of it but I now won’t have the money to replace her bike," she said. "It breaks my heart."
It also includes the case of Ian, a dad-of-two in his 50s who has separated from his partner. He fears he may not be able to see his children this Christmas, as he can't afford to host them at home, or travel to see them. A Zoom call on Christmas day may be all he can afford.
The report, written by poverty expert and Loughborough University Professor Donald Hirsch finds the support currently on offer from the government will fall at least £1,600 short of the anticipated rise in living costs faced by a couple with two children.
That's due to cuts to Universal Credit and what's described as an 'inadequate uprating of benefits' soaring inflation and a further rise in energy costs. The package of support measures falls well short of making up the shortfall, professor Hirsch said..
"The shortfall families are facing between skyrocketing costs and the support government have offered continues to grow," he added. "Families were falling behind with the anticipated rise in costs even when the measures were announced, and since then the food and energy costs forecast for this winter have continued to rise sharply.
"The flat rate emergency payments announced so far leave families with children particularly far behind, because they are not sensitive to the extra costs that children bring. A new package needs to address the fact that by the autumn, living costs could have risen by as much as 14% for low income families, who have received only a 3% increase in benefits.
"An additional across-the-board uprating to Universal Credit and other benefits would address family need far more effectively than further flat rate payments."
Gordon Brown said: "This is a crisis that Britain hasn’t seen in decades. The most urgent and immediate challenge for the incoming Prime Minister is to ensure that families with children and disabled people aren't neglected to struggle through the challenges ahead.
"We need targeted support for families on the lowest-incomes, not just cuts in taxes or flat rate payments which don't account for the specific needs of people on the brink of poverty. There should be no argument that a permanent increase in Universal Credit is the only way to take a sure step towards a solution.
"This crisis goes far beyond politics; this is a moral issue - our responsibilities to our neighbours and in particular to those who have the least and whose needs are the greatest."
A Government spokesperson said: "We recognise people are struggling with rising prices which is why we are protecting millions of the most vulnerable families with at least £1,200 of direct payments, starting with the £326 cost of living payment, which has already been issued to more than seven million low income households.
"Through our £37bn support package we are saving the typical employee over £330 a year through a tax cut, allowing people on Universal Credit to keep £1,000 more of what they earn, while all households will receive £400 energy payments.
"Vulnerable families in England are also being supported by the Government’s Household Support Fund - which was boosted by £500million - to help pay for essentials."
Read more on the cost-of-living crisis:
- What to do if you can't or are struggling to pay your energy bills
- Baskets from Aldi, Lidl, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrisons, Ocado and Waitrose compared - and one was more than £25 cheaper
- The streets a mile from the airport where people are priced out of holidays
- Disabled people take on the cost of living crisis – which is costing them more
- Mum-of-three left with £9 to look after family for a week after bank suddenly froze her account
