Millions of Britons are at breaking point as “shockingly low incomes” leave them hungry, without the basics and fearing debt collectors, according to Christians Against Poverty (CAP).
The debt advice charity released figures today showing 11.8 million people in the UK, or one in five, don’t have enough money to live on.
CAP support thousands across Britain to become debt-free and their latest report warns that chronically low incomes are devastating the lives of millions in the UK.
This is due to a deficit budget – where people’s earnings aren’t enough to cover the essentials.
Helen Bolton
GB News
Helen Bolton, Christians Against Poverty Leeds Debt Centre Manager, told GB News: “We’re really surprised to find out that 22% of the population are in this situation, and that equates in the UK to 14.4 million people that are inevitably living in poverty because they’ve not got enough money coming in to pay their essential bills.
“The overall headline inflation is coming down, but inflation on the basics of life is not coming down or is coming down very slowly.
“Meanwhile, incomes, whether that’s salaries, wages or benefits, have not gone up anywhere near in line with inflation, and so inevitably things are squeezed.”
The report highlights that when CAP’s debt coaches go into clients’ homes they find people living in cold properties and with empty fridges.
Michelle Neal was helped by the charity after falling into £30,000 of debt
GB News
Clients describe sitting in the dark with the lights off and curtains closed, often hiding in terror because they are afraid of bailiffs knocking at their door demanding money that they do not have.
The report reveals that almost half of CAP’s clients have deficit budgets, even after an expert debt advisor has supported them to review their finances, and worked through suggestions to maximise their income and cut out non-essentials.
Michelle Neal was helped by the charity after falling into £30,000 of debt. Her home was repossessed and she relied on food banks as her carer’s wage didn’t cover her bills.
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She told GB News: “We couldn’t afford the mortgage or the bills and there wasn’t any food in the house.
“It was just one nightmare after another. Basically what we had to do is go back and live with my mum for a while, and bearing in mind mum had dementia, which wasn’t good.
“But fortunately the council came through because we were classed as homeless, so we got a house.
“It wasn’t the greatest property but it was a roof over our head.”
Michelle is now debt-free but still struggles as a single person with paying the bills. She said: “It’s not easy when you’re on your to pay bills and things like that without a second income, especially if bills are going to go up.”
Christians Against Poverty are calling for the public to support their campaign
GB News
Gas and electricity prices will rise by 10 per cent in England, Scotland and Wales from October.
Under the new energy price cap, the typical annual dual-fuel bill paid by direct debit will be £1,717 per year.
At the same time, around 10 million pensioners will no longer get Winter Fuel Payments to help them with bills at the coldest time of year.
With the energy price increase next month, Christians Against Poverty want the Government to take action now.
“We will have people who are cold who are sitting in the dark, whose mental health is going down the pan,” said Helen Bolton, Christians Against Poverty Leeds Debt Centre Manager.
“One of the things that we’re campaigning for is for the Government to look at a minimum income standard, whether that is through benefits or whether that is through legislation about minimum wages or minimum hours that people are contracted for.
“I guess we just want them [the Government] to accept that there’s not a lot more can be done about expenditure, and so we’ve got to look at giving the minimum level of income to all families.”
Keir Starmer announced 10 million pensioners will no longer get Winter Fuel Payments to help them with bills at the coldest time of year
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Christians Against Poverty are calling for the public to support their campaign, and they hope the Labour Party will listen.
For over 25 years the charity has fought to see an end to poverty in the UK, working with third-sector organisations, politicians, churches and campaigners to speak up on behalf of those being crushed under the weight of poverty and debt.
Find out more about Christians Against Poverty on their website HERE
Source Agencies
