Latest Citizens Advice national research* shows 14% of UK adults approaching the end of 2020 with arrears in essential bills – energy, water, phone and broadband, council tax, mortgage or rent.
That’s equivalent to 7 million people.
Among the most worrying numbers are groups who have fallen behind on essential bills or rent:
We can’t precisely compare local with national data. In fact fewer CARBS clients asked for debt advice in 2020 than 2019, no doubt partly due to Government support measures.
But as unemployment rose in the second half of 2020 our numbers grew steadily. Nearly half (48%) had dependent children (chart below).
We support the Citizens Advice call for targeted help for people who’ve built up debts during a pandemic no-one could have planned for. Most important are council tax and rent arrears where ‘the government should consider a system of grants and government-backed loans’.
* One in seven fall behind on essential household bills Citizens Advice, 11/12/20