UK benefits fall short of minimum living cost by £140 a month, charities say

Research shows universal credit allowance far below cost of food, energy and essentials

• ‘It’s dehumanising’: the food bank volunteer living on the breadline

The UK’s leading poverty charities have called for a change in the law to fix the UK’s “failing” welfare system after research revealed that basic benefits given to low-income households are at least £140 a month below the real cost of food, energy and everyday basics.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) and the food bank network the Trussell Trust said inadequate benefits were the main driver of the explosion in destitution and food bank use in recent months, and urged the government to formally bring universal credit rates into line with minimum living costs.