MP briefing: Food insecurity levels in households receiving Universal Credit

New data published by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) shows UK households in receipt of Universal Credit were approximately four times more likely to experience food insecurity than the average household during the first year of the pandemic.

Despite this, DWP have not acted on this data or taken responsibility for tackling these disproportionately high food insecurity levels among benefit claimants. Since the data were collected the removal of the £20 uplift to Universal Credit and cost of living pressures, including rapidly increasing fuel and food prices, have exacerbated the problem further.

A Food Foundation survey (conducted late April 2022) shows that food insecurity levels are now double pre pandemic levels, and at their their highest level since the pandemic hit.

The Food Foundation is calling on the Work and Pensions Committee to conduct an urgent inquiry into what the Government is planning to do to reduce levels of household food insecurity amongst benefit claimants.