Half of hungry families being fed by foodbanks during the coronavirus crisis are having money taken from their benefits by the Government, a poll reveals today.
A survey of people using Trussell Trust centres found 47% were having cash deducted from welfare payments for money they owed the Department for Work and Pensions because of loans and previous overpayments, the charity said.
Some 73% of households who rely on Universal Credit and used foodbanks over the summer were repaying an advance payment to the Government, according to the Trust’s ‘Lift the Burden’ report.
Chief executive Emma Revie said: “Our welfare system should increase people’s security, not suffering.
“But right now, the Government is taking money from the benefit payments of many people using foodbanks.
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“Taking money off payments to repay these debts makes it much harder for people to afford the essentials and can impact on people’s mental health; this isn’t OK.
“With the pandemic continuing to hit people’s incomes, the Government must pause taking money from benefit payments over the winter months until a more responsible and just system that offers security and support is in place.
“This would help people on the lowest incomes to keep every penny of their benefits to help afford the absolute essentials, instead of needing to turn to a foodbank for help.
“We need change this Christmas to create a system that works for everyone.”
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The Mirror told last month how the Trussell Trust handed out more than 11 million meals to hungry Britons in the first six months of the Covid-19 crisis.
The country’s biggest foodbank network gave away a record-breaking 1,239,399 emergency parcels between April and September.
With each aid package containing enough food for three meals a day for three days, that equates to 11,154,591 meals supplied as the pandemic raged.
Heartbreakingly, 4,237,686 meals went to children.
Youngsters received 2,573 emergency parcels every day from the charity’s 1,350 centres – totalling 470,854 parcels over the half-year.
A Government spokesman said: “We have announced a £400million package of support for this winter and beyond, including £170m to help families stay warm and well fed, millions in support for food aid charities and £220m to help children through the Holiday Activities and Food programme.”
