Skip to main content
Work with the NEU
Universal credit system leaves thousands facing hunger and hardship
A Universal Credit sign on a door of a job centre plus in east London

THE reviled universal credit system is leaving hundreds of thousands of people facing hunger and hardship and needs “urgent action” from the government in its October Budget, the Trussell Trust has said today.

New research by the anti-poverty charity found that the failed system leaves almost half of its recipients running out of food and 1.6 million have been driven to use foodbanks in the last 12 months.

Universal credit was introduced by the Tory-Lib Dem government in 2013 to replace six benefit payment categories.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
A Universal Credit sign on a door of a job centre plus in ea
Features / 12 September 2025
12 September 2025

A new report from the Citizens Advice destroys the government narrative about disabled people ‘choosing’ not to work, showing the £3,000 annual cuts will create a two-tiered system based on claim dates rather than needs, writes DYLAN MURPHY