Helen Barnard, Director of Policy at the Trussell Trust,
said: “We welcome the Chancellor’s action today to
extend the Household Support Fund and reduce the burden of debt
deductions facing households on the lowest incomes. This will
provide short-term relief to some. However, we are disappointed
that the Chancellor has offered only temporary sticking plasters
instead of long-term solutions to the crisis of rising hunger,
hardship, and debt.
“The extension of the Household Support Fund is only for six
months. When it ends, councils and charities will be left
scrambling to fill an even bigger gap. More people are likely to
fall into unaffordable debt, be unable to afford essentials, and
have no choice but to turn to food banks – who are already at
breaking point.
“We are already seeing unprecedented numbers of people unable to
afford essentials such as food, heating, and clothing, and are
forced to turn to food banks. Today’s Budget will do little to
change this in the years to come or prevent living standards
falling even further in the coming year.
“An Essentials Guarantee needs to be a priority for any future
budget because charities simply cannot continue to bear the
burden of a social security system that isn't fit for purpose. We
should all expect our government to fulfil its most basic duty:
to protect the people that need their help most.”
