The Trussell Trust’s latest figures show that foodbank use is up by 13% on last year. The Trust has called for a pause on all new universal credit (UC) claims.
The Trust provided 658,048 emergency supplies to people in crisis between April and September 2018, a 13% increase on the same period in 2017.
Emma Revie, Chief Executive of The Trussell Trust said,
“It’s not right that people are being forced to use foodbanks after weeks of waiting for Universal Credit payments. The changes announced in last week’s Budget are a good start – but they won’t solve all of the problems foodbanks see, and they won’t help people making new claims this winter.
“We’re seeing soaring levels of need at foodbanks. The time to act is now. If the five week wait isn’t reduced, the only way to stop even more people being forced to foodbanks this winter will be to pause all new claims to Universal Credit, until funding is in place to reduce the five week wait. Foodbanks cannot continue to pick up the pieces – we have to make sure our benefits system can protect people from hunger.”
