Eastbourne Foodbank’s Chief Executive, Howard Wardle, has responded to the Govt’s Autumn Statement which, he says, is a small step in the right direction but falls a long way short of what is needed.
He said:
We welcome the rise in Universal Credit and are pleased the Govt has decided to do this in line with September’s inflation rate. We also welcome the unfreezing of Local Housing Allowance which was an urgent priority.
Cost of Living suffering remains
While these measures are a step in the right direction, they are not enough to solve the financial hardship many of the people in our community are facing. Rent increases, food and energy increases and a shortage of affordable housing are still causing significant levels of suffering for low income families and will continue to do so.
Universal credit – still a long way short
We know, according to research analysis from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, that to afford the very basic minimum essentials for food, energy, rent and so on, a person needs £120 a week. Universal Credit has been £85 for a single adult – leaving a huge £35 gap between benefit and what people need as a very minimum to live. Even with this 6.7% increase, the weekly payment will still be below £91 and a long way short of what is really needed.
Guarantee Our Essentials Campaign
Even with the increases announced in the Autumn Statement there will still be a significant gap. We want politicians from all parties to go further and we believe the basic rate of Universal Credit should at least cover the cost of essentials like food, household bills and travel costs. That’s why we’re part of the Trussell Trust’s “Guarantee Our Essentials” campaign.
A small step in the right direction
So the measures announced in the Autumn Statement are a small step in the right direction but there is a very long road ahead if we’re to really tackle the increasingly deep-rooted poverty and deprivation issues facing so many people in Eastbourne.
