Posted 05.08.21
National Housing Federation: Further reading
Four out of five (79%) social housing residents say they have struggled to pay for at least one essential item whilst on Universal Credit - such as heating, clothes and Council Tax - according to a new report by the National Housing Federation.
Four in ten (43%) residents have struggled to afford food.
In the largest survey to date of social housing residents on Universal Credit, the National Housing Federation asked 3,520 tenants from eight housing associations about their experiences on the benefit.i
Alongside difficulties meeting basic living costs, the findings revealed that a large proportion of people were relying on debt - with more than 4 in 5 (84%) respondents reporting borrowing money from friends and family, applying for loans including high interest borrowing, and visiting food banks.
The shortfalls people faced were in part due to the five-week wait for universal credit. Some said they were pushed into debt during this period from which they have yet to recover.
Residents said the experience of claiming Universal Credit had impacted their health and wellbeing, with higher than average levels of anxiety.
The survey was carried out in Spring 2021. Some respondents, including those who had been forced to claim Universal Credit after losing jobs or income during the pandemic, praised the benefit for supporting them through such a difficult time.
However, the survey also demonstrates that even with the £20 a week uplift, many people and families on Universal Credit do not have enough money to live on.
At the time of the survey, a single person over 25 would get £411.51 a month to live on. If the government continues with plans to cut £20 a week from Universal Credit in October, their total income will drop by a fifth (21%) to £324.84 a month.
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