Thu, 07 Aug 2025

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 'Living on Universal Credit is a constant battle'

Keith Williams says he uses a food bank as his monthly £368 benefit payment lasts "about a week".

* Many people on Universal Credit (UC) are struggling to afford food, with some saying they would starve without access to food banks.
* Keith Williams from Nottingham says living on £368 per month UC benefit payment is "a constant battle" and that the money only lasts about a week.
* A study by the University of Nottingham found that 70% of people on UC were skipping meals or going entire days without eating, and that they struggled to access proper nutrition, including vitamins like vitamin A and iron.
* The study's lead researcher, Simon Welham, said that the participants on UC could not come close to achieving a normal standard of living due to their financial capabilities.
* Some people on UC are having to rely on staple foods like bread because they are cheap and filling, but this can lead to nutrient deficiencies.
* Many recipients of UC feel stigmatized and ashamed about relying on benefits, with some saying that they have had to become accustomed to living without food to protect their pride.
* The Open Kitchen in Nottingham reported a significant increase in the number of people it sees each day receiving UC, from 20-30 per day before the cost of living crisis to 120-130 per day since April 2022.
* A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said that they are taking measures to support households on UC, including extending the Household Support Fund and child poverty taskforce.
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