Christians Against Poverty has released a briefing paper ‘Powerless people: indebted and afraid‘ exploring the experience of people being indebted to the government and how debt collection processes create fear, leave clients powerless and render debts unmanageable.
A few key findings from the paper are as follows:
- 64% live below the poverty line and 55% have mental ill-health
- 69% had skipped meals due to debt and 46% were unable to afford toiletries and hygiene products
- They are 81% more likely to have been afraid to leave the house and 41% more likely to have considered suicide as a way out of debt
- The most common types of debt are Council Tax arrears, Social Fund Budgeting Loans and benefit or tax credit overpayments, and more than half (54%) have owed multiple types.
To find out more, read the full briefing paper here.