The Trussell Trust responds to autumn budget

Emma Revie, Chief Executive of the Trussell Trust, said: “With food banks experiencing record levels of need, we are pleased that today the UK Government has recognised that people on the lowest incomes must be protected. We welcome the Chancellor’s decision to uprate benefits and raise the benefit cap in line with inflation from April. The additional cash support for people on low incomes through cost of living payments and the extension of the Household Support Fund will also provide further protection.

“However, we know many people are already in financial crisis now and, for them, April will feel very far away. Rising costs and historically low levels of social security mean that, despite the support provided so far, thousands of people are already having to go without the essentials. In the last six months, 320,000 people turned to Trussell Trust food banks for the first time and this number is likely to rise.

“With food banks already pushed to breaking point, the UK Government must urgently consider how to bridge the gap between the November Cost of Living payment and the uprating of benefit in April.”