Two out of five Universal Credit recipients skip meals to 'survive', Britain's biggest foodbank has today warned.
Brand-new research from the Trussell Trust reveals that some 21% of people on benefits were unable to cook food this summer, struggling to afford to use their cookers - while 23% were left unable to afford to travel to work or essential appointments through public transport and fuel prices surging.
The charity also say that 64% of Universal Credit claimants had to spend July's initial cost of living payment on essential foods, after receiving the boost from the Government.
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The Mirror reports that a YouGov survey of 1,846 Universal Credit claimants found more than two million people skipped meals across the previous three months to keep up with other essential costs. Around 38% of these told pollsters that within the last month, they went a whole day without consuming any food at all or just one meal as they could not afford to eat.
Trussell Trust chief executive Emma Revie said: “This is only going to get worse for people who are already struggling to get by. It’s wrong that people are missing meals and are unable to afford to cook, because they are sick or disabled or caring for someone.
“The reality is that, instead of providing a lifeline when our circumstances change, financial support such as Universal Credit is leaving people – 41% of whom are working - without enough income to stay warm, fed and dry. It’s pushing people to the doors of foodbanks, and that’s simply not right.”
The charity has urged ministers to take immediate action in the expected emergency Budget to tackle hardship by 'rethinking the deductions that it takes from people’s benefits payments'.
Ms Revie added: “The Government must act now to protect people from harm. This means at least doubling the additional support offered to people on the lowest incomes and rethinking the deductions from the very payments that are meant to help them.”
In her first speech as Prime Minister, Liz Truss pledged to 'get Britain working again'. She added: “I have a bold plan to grow the economy through tax cuts and reform."
The Department of Work and Pensions was contacted for comment.
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