On average those forced to foodbanks live on £7.10 a day
New research reveals the plight of foodbank users in Britain who have on average just £7.10 a day to live on.
The stark statistics come from the UK’s biggest foodbank network, the Trussell Trust which shows the median weekly income after housing costs for households relying on food parcels is drastically lower than the official relative poverty threshold of £262 per week.
Last year foodbank use soared to record levels with 1,583,668 three-day emergency food supplies distributed in the 12 months to March 2019 – a 19% rise on the previous year.
People seek emergency food handouts for three main reasons according to the research: problems with the benefits system; ill health and challenging life experiences; and a lack of local support.
Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trussell Trust, said: “Hunger in the UK isn’t about food – it’s about people not having enough money. People are trying to get by on £50 a week and that’s just not enough for the essentials, let alone a decent standard of living.
“We created a benefits system because we’re a country that believes in making sure financial support is there for each other if it’s needed. The question that naturally arises, then, is why the incomes of people at food banks are so low, despite being supported by that benefits system?”
Emma, a foodbank user, who is featured in the report, said £130 of her £138 fortnightly benefit payment went to paying arrears, leaving her with only £8 to live on.
“If I don’t pay my bills, then I’ll get the house taken off me. After paying arrears, I’ve got £8 a fortnight and that’s to pay for gas, electric, water,” she said. “So it’s just impossible, it really is. I go to bed at night wishing I never wake up in the morning.”
The study also finds that the vast majority of people at food banks have either exhausted support from family or friends, are socially isolated, or have family and friends who are not in a financial position to help.
A DWP spokesperson said: “We take this report very seriously and continue to work closely with the Trussell Trust on this important issue. We spend more than £95bn a year on the welfare safety net, but we continue to make improvements to get people the support they need and prevent them falling through the cracks.
“Already we have simplified the benefits system with universal credit, making it easier for people to access support. And this week we have announced working-age benefits will rise in line with inflation from April, giving millions of people more money in their pockets.”
