Find Your Nearest Foodbank...
Cost of living surge leaves vulnerable households reeling
As a surge of price increases hits UK households this April, frontline charities warn that more people will be plunged into poverty, homelessness, and reliance on food banks. Labelled “Awful April,” families are facing substantial rises in essential household bills, including energy, water, and council tax. According to charities, this combination will leave low-income households struggling to afford basic necessities like food and heating.
Energy regulator Ofgem’s latest price cap increase alone has added roughly £111 annually to the average household energy bill, now totalling approximately £1,849 per year. Water bills have risen significantly by around £123 annually, while council tax has increased by up to 5%, equating to an additional £108 per year for the average household.
Matt Downie, chief executive of homelessness charity Crisis, highlights that low-income families were already facing hardship before these increases. Now, he says, many face impossible decisions – whether to pay rent or bills, risking debt and homelessness as the cost of living continues to escalate. The government’s choice to freeze housing benefit levels adds further strain, creating a widening gap between rent costs and available support.
Charities warn of a “perfect storm” driving food bank use
The Trussell Trust, the UK’s leading food bank network, describes the current situation as a “perfect storm” pushing more people towards emergency food parcels. In 2023/24, the trust distributed over 3.1 million food parcels – nearly double the amount compared to five years ago.
Policy Director Helen Barnard emphasises the severe impact of this month’s increases, noting that essential household costs have risen significantly faster than social security benefits, which only increased by 1.7%. This effectively represents a real-term cut for the poorest households, who now face stark choices between heating, eating, or paying rent.
Calls for immediate government action
Charities including Crisis, Trussell Trust, Independent Age, and Age UK are urgently calling for more government intervention. Immediate recommendations include expanding emergency financial support, such as the Household Support Fund, and reassessing the freeze on housing benefits. Long-term suggestions include aligning social security increases with inflation to ensure households can afford basic living costs.
While the Treasury has highlighted existing cost-of-living measures, charities assert these are insufficient to counteract the unprecedented April price hikes. As millions of households confront this latest crisis, organisations urge bold government action to prevent further hardship, homelessness, and food insecurity.
