Increase in number of food bank parcels handed out in West Yorkshire

File photo dated 17/01/18 of goods at a food bank. Figures from the Trussell Trust reveal problems with Universal Credit are driving an increase in the number of emergency supplies handed out at food banks. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Tuesday November 6, 2018. The charity said that if the five-week minimum wait for a first Universal Credit payment is not reduced, the only way to prevent more people being forced to rely on food banks is to pause all new claims for the benefit. See PA story INDUSTRY FoodBanks. Photo credit should read: Andy Buchanan/PA Wire

The Trussell Trust said its network provided 17,122 emergency supplies in the area between April and September. Of those, 10,734 were for adults and 6,388 for children.

That’s a 21 per cent increase on the same period in 2017, when 14,147 food parcels were handed out. Each package contains 10 meals, which are supposed to last for three days.

National research by the charity showed that delays with Universal Credit were the main reason for food bank referrals. The government said it was wrong to link a rise to any one cause.’

The trust expects these numbers to rise towards the end of the year, as people typically collect more food parcels over winter.

Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trussell Trust, which supports 428 food banks across the UK, said: “Our benefits system is supposed to anchor any of us from being swept into poverty, but if Universal Credit is to do that, we need to see urgent changes.

“It’s not right that people are being forced to use food banks after weeks of waiting for Universal Credit payments. The changes announced in the budget are a good start - but they won’t solve all of the problems food banks see, and they won’t help people making new claims this winter.

“We’re seeing soaring levels of need at food banks. If the five-week wait isn’t reduced, the only way to stop even more people being forced to food banks this winter will be to pause all new claims to Universal Credit, until funding is in place to reduce the five-week wait.

“Food banks cannot continue to pick up the pieces - we have to make sure our benefits system can protect people from hunger.”

Across Yorkshire and the Humber, the number of food parcels handed out increased by 17 per cent over the time period.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: “Universal Credit replaces an out of date, complex benefits system with cliff edges that disincentivised work and often trapped people in unemployment.

“We have just announced that we will be increasing the amount people can earn on Universal Credit by £1,000 before their payment begins to be reduced, to ensure work always pays, and introduced £1 billion to help people moving over from the old benefits system to Universal Credit.

“This is on top of the improvements we have already made - advances have increased to 100 per cent, the seven-day waiting period has been removed and we are paying housing benefit for an additional two weeks when people move onto Universal Credit.

“The reasons why people use food banks are complex, so it’s wrong to link a rise to any one cause.”

Margaret Greenwood, shadow work and pensions secretary, said: “This Tory government is leaving people at risk of destitution as more and more people are being forced to rely on food banks.

“Nobody should be left waiting weeks for a payment and the Government must stop the botched rollout of Universal Credit now.”