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'500,000' reliant on food banks

More than half a million people are now reliant on food banks, charities have said as they called on MPs to investigate the impact of benefit cuts.

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Mother: Queues so big my food bank opens twice a day

Single mum Jack Monroe, who visits her local food bank once a week, said she finds it an "astounding claim" that the Government believes there is no direct correlation between the increase in the number of people visiting food banks and benefit cuts.

Speaking to Daybreak she said: "The queues at our local food bank have got so great that they are now opening twice a day, and that came in about April [time], and that was in line with the bedroom tax and harder benefit sanctions."

She added, "the biggest surprise for me is the number of people turning up in their work uniforms".

DWP: Welfare reforms 'improve the lives' of poorest

A Department for Work and Pensions spokeswoman has responded to claims that there is a connection between the Government's benefit cuts and the number of people reliant on food banks.

She said the benefits system supports millions of people "so no-one has to struggle to meet their basic needs". She added:

We welcome the contribution voluntary organisations and foodbanks, including the Trussell Trust, play in supporting local communities, beyond the safety net provided by Government. That is why Jobcentre Plus - for the first time - is now referring people to their services.

Our welfare reforms will improve the lives of some of the poorest families in our communities, with the Universal Credit simplifying the complex myriad of benefits and making three million households better off.

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Charities: Benefit sanctions regime has 'gone too far'

Charities Oxfam and Church Action Aid have drawn a connection with the Government's two-year below-inflation cap on working-age benefit increases and the increased number of people in the UK using food banks.

Their report, Walking the Breadline, said:

There is clear evidence that the benefit sanctions regime has gone too far and is leading to destitution, hardship and hunger on a large scale.

There is a real risk that the benefit cuts and the introduction of Universal Credit... will lead to even larger numbers being forced to turn to food banks.

Food banks may not have the capacity to cope with the increased level of demand.

The national minimum wage and benefit levels need to rise in line with inflation in order to ensure than families retain the ability to live with dignity and can afford to feed and clothe themselves and stay warm.

'More than half a million' reliant on food banks

Charities are calling on MPs to investigate the impact of benefit cuts as more than half a million people are now reliant on food banks.

The Government is failing to properly monitor the numbers now resorting to emergency help, Church Action Poverty and Oxfam said.

Charities warn more than half a million are now reliant on food banks Credit: David Jones/PA Wire

They suggested that the Commons work and pensions select committee should launch an urgent investigation into "the relationship between benefit delay, error or sanctions, welfare reform changes and the growth of food poverty".

A report by the charities found that up to half of the people seeking help were doing so as a direct result of having benefit payments delayed, reduced or withdrawn.

Read: Food bank usage almost trebles across UK

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