London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

17% of UK Universal Credit claimants forced to miss meals due to financial strain of Covid pandemic – study

17% of UK Universal Credit claimants forced to miss meals due to financial strain of Covid pandemic – study

A study has found that thousands of individuals who are claiming Universal Credit after losing their job during the Covid-19 pandemic are struggling to pay their bills and basic costs, forcing around 17 percent to skip meals.

Despite the UK government introducing a £20 ($28) per week temporary top-up to Universal Credit during the past 12 months, more than 30 percent of individuals who’ve signed on to the scheme during the pandemic say they are struggling to keep up with bills and debt payments they have to cover, with one in six reporting that they skipped a meal in the past two weeks.

Another problematic finding was that many of the people surveyed had already used up savings they’d built up on essential living costs during the summer months last year.

Dr. Kate Summers, a fellow at the London School of Economics who led the study, warned that the situation will get exponentially worse for individuals who have to rely on the Universal Credit scheme until the job market rebounds from the impact of Covid-19.

"As the pandemic has continued, the system is unlikely to provide adequate support in the medium and longer term, as people’s capacity to cope financially is eroded."


Universal Credit is a scheme that supports a number of different individuals in the UK, including those who are unemployed, having replaced the previous Jobseeker’s Allowance. Currently, people on standard Universal Credit receive between £342.72 ($479) and £594.04 ($831) per month, depending on their personal circumstances.

The study was conducted by a group called Welfare at a Social Distance, which is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, as part of UK Research and Innovation’s rapid response to Covid-19. The group believes that the “benefits system is crucial to supporting people during, and after, the Covid-19 crisis”.

They have presented a number of suggestions that they are calling on the government to adopt, including reviewing the existing benefits system ahead of the upcoming budget and addressing aspects of the application process and adequacy of payments.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×