A fresh start for families in Britain swept into debt by Covid-19
Data released this week by Citizens Advice paints a distressing picture for levels of household debt in the UK if the proposed cut to Universal Credit goes ahead at the end of September. Universal Credit has been uprated by £20 per week during the pandemic, to help families relying on the benefit make ends meet.Continue reading “Wave of debt and uncertainty set to hit Universal Credit claimants after planned cut”
This blog is written by Paul Morrison of the Joint Public Issues Team. Well over a thousand supporters of the Reset the Debt campaign wrote to their MPs to ask them to attend the debate on household debt in Parliament on 8 May. Thank you! The debate attracted a range of MPs from across theContinue reading “Reset the Debt in Parliament”
On Thursday 8 July, MPs will come together to debate and discuss solutions and issues around household debt incurred as a result of Covid-19. Before the debate, we’re praying for our MPs and those who are weighed down by debt today. Loving God,We thank you for the abundance of your creation. We celebrate that youContinue reading “Prayer for MPs”
A report published last week by the Centre for Cities demonstrates widening inequalities between richer and poorer areas of the UK. Many in less affluent areas, especially in the North and the Midlands, are facing a disproportionately large debt burden, meaning bounce-back from the pandemic will be uneven. The report, An Uneven Recovery, highlights theContinue reading “New Centre for Cities report shows unequal post-pandemic savings and debt in cities across the UK”
A report published last week by the Trussell Trust reveals a record 2.5 million food parcels were distributed by their network of food banks in the past year. The figure represents a 33% increase on the previous year, including a disproportionately large increase in the number of parcels distributed to children. Compared to this timeContinue reading “Trussell Trust figures reveal a record number turning to foodbanks during the pandemic”
A report published today by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee calls for support for renters in the private sector who are in arrears, including a recommendation for funding for some rent debt write-off. It is welcome that the recommendations from the committee recognise the scale of the challenge brought on by Covid-19 forContinue reading “Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee report calls for action on rent debts”
This week, an amendment to the Financial Services Bill (2019-21) will be put to the House of Lords, aiming to ensure a ‘fair debt write-down’ of debts sold on the secondary debt market. This is a positive move towards a debt system which is more just and fair. But what does it actually mean? Let’sContinue reading “Amendment to the Financial Services Bill (2019-21)”
A report published by the thinktank Resolution Foundation earlier this week suggests some concerning figures on the UK’s household debt crisis. The report suggests that more than three in ten people who began claiming Universal Credit during the pandemic have either acquired new debts or seen their existing debts grow in the past year. ThisContinue reading “Resolution Foundation reports that over 1/3 of Universal Credit claimants have seen debts mount during lockdown”
This week, it was reported that County Court Judgements (CCJs) have risen dramatically – which leaves many vulnerable people at risk of being chased for debts. This all comes as the UK Government prepares to lift several of the protections put in place on people struggling with debt, including a ban on repossessions. A CCJContinue reading “County Court Judgements released revealing a large and unexpected rise”
Chris Butler is a company finance director and a member of Wesley Memorial Church in Oxford. Inspired by the Bible study on Nehemiah 5 at a group exploration session about the Reset the Debt campaign in his church, he imagines an uncomfortable encounter with a modern day Nehemiah. We thought we knew what to expectContinue reading “Nehemiah revisited”
Reset The Debt