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| Poor families hit by welfare reforms 'running up £52 of debt every week' | Poor families hit by welfare reforms 'running up £52 of debt every week' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Low income families hit by welfare reforms are running up personal debt at the rate of £52 a week to cope with the rising cost of living, with many saying they have no idea if they will be able to pay it back, according to the latest instalment of a poverty research project. | Low income families hit by welfare reforms are running up personal debt at the rate of £52 a week to cope with the rising cost of living, with many saying they have no idea if they will be able to pay it back, according to the latest instalment of a poverty research project. |
| The project found that the average household debt stood at just under £3,000, up by 29% since October, equivalent to £670. Families were typically spending £34 a week repaying debts, from an average income among those surveyed of £176 a week. | |
| The poorest families are also spending nearly four times the national average on heating and fuel – equivalent to a fifth of their income – while nearly a third of households spend less than £40 a week on food. | The poorest families are also spending nearly four times the national average on heating and fuel – equivalent to a fifth of their income – while nearly a third of households spend less than £40 a week on food. |
| Almost half of the participants in the survey, all of whom have been affected by welfare reforms such as the bedroom tax, report that they have no money left to live on each week once rent, food and bills are paid for. | Almost half of the participants in the survey, all of whom have been affected by welfare reforms such as the bedroom tax, report that they have no money left to live on each week once rent, food and bills are paid for. |
| The findings emerged in the third of six planned reports by a group of housing associations, which are tracking how families living in social housing in the north-west of England are coping with cuts to their income as a result of welfare changes and recession. The Real Life Reform project examines in detail the finances, views and behaviours of a group of up to 100 households. | The findings emerged in the third of six planned reports by a group of housing associations, which are tracking how families living in social housing in the north-west of England are coping with cuts to their income as a result of welfare changes and recession. The Real Life Reform project examines in detail the finances, views and behaviours of a group of up to 100 households. |
| Andy Williams, director of neighbourhood services at Liverpool Housing Trust and chair of the Real Life Reform steering group, said: "Householders are falling into more debt, including some taking money from loan sharks, and it's a real concern that people are having to borrow to cope with the cost of everyday living. | Andy Williams, director of neighbourhood services at Liverpool Housing Trust and chair of the Real Life Reform steering group, said: "Householders are falling into more debt, including some taking money from loan sharks, and it's a real concern that people are having to borrow to cope with the cost of everyday living. |
| "In our first report in September, people said they'd resist falling further into debt, yet just six months later this picture has emerged. | "In our first report in September, people said they'd resist falling further into debt, yet just six months later this picture has emerged. |
| "Nearly eight out of 10 people in the study owe money. With an underlying average debt of £2,943, some may never pay this off given that they have, on average, as little as £3 left at the end of each day for food." | "Nearly eight out of 10 people in the study owe money. With an underlying average debt of £2,943, some may never pay this off given that they have, on average, as little as £3 left at the end of each day for food." |
| The survey found that the number of households in debt was up four percentage points since the autumn. Over half of families said they did not know how long it would take them to repay the debt or that they would never be able to repay it. Nearly one in seven households had debts that would take more than four years to pay back. | |
| One participant told the project: "I have just taken out a new loan from a loan shark for Christmas. It will never go down but it just about keeps my head above water." | One participant told the project: "I have just taken out a new loan from a loan shark for Christmas. It will never go down but it just about keeps my head above water." |
| The report said that poorer families were increasingly reliant on debt to make ends meet. "The consequences of weekly repayments, which have more than doubled since the start of this study, alongside increasing costs in all areas, is really placing financial strain and hardship on our households." | The report said that poorer families were increasingly reliant on debt to make ends meet. "The consequences of weekly repayments, which have more than doubled since the start of this study, alongside increasing costs in all areas, is really placing financial strain and hardship on our households." |
| Household food spending by Real Life Reform participants, which had dipped to an average £2.10 a day in October rose to £3.08 in January, an increase attributed to bigger-than-usual grocery shopping bills over the Christmas holidays. | Household food spending by Real Life Reform participants, which had dipped to an average £2.10 a day in October rose to £3.08 in January, an increase attributed to bigger-than-usual grocery shopping bills over the Christmas holidays. |
| Fuel spending had gone up by 8% since the last survey was carried out in October while household fuel bills had risen by an additional £7 a week since the summer. Participants were spending an average of £141 a month on energy, compared with the UK average of £106, in part because many were on expensive payments meters charging 27p per kilowatt hour compared to 17p for those not on meters. | Fuel spending had gone up by 8% since the last survey was carried out in October while household fuel bills had risen by an additional £7 a week since the summer. Participants were spending an average of £141 a month on energy, compared with the UK average of £106, in part because many were on expensive payments meters charging 27p per kilowatt hour compared to 17p for those not on meters. |