Foodbank use to increase, study warns

Benefit freezes and the continued changes to welfare are likely to drive up foodbank use in future years, a new study has warned.

The research, conducted by Oxford University, found that many foodbank users experience profound poverty and destitution, and struggle to buy food and pay bills.

The report also unveiled that nearly 80 per cent of households had experienced severe food insecurity in the past 12 months, meaning they were unable to afford sufficient food and had gone whole days without food. Most users said they found it difficult to pay rent, heat their home or buy clothes and toiletries.

It also found that people with a disability or chronic illness who were in receipt of benefits were disproportionately likely to be referred to food banks, as were lone parents and poorer families with three or more children.

Rachel Loopsta, the report’s lead author, said: “These are the same groups that have been – and continue to be – hit hardest by welfare reform, such as loss of disability entitlements, increased conditionality and sanctions, the benefit cap, and reductions in tax credits. Our observation that these groups are disproportionately needing help from food banks is unlikely to be coincidence.”