Working Scots ‘going without food’ to make it to pay day

Polling for CAS by YouGov shows that 47 per cent of Scottish people in work run out of money before payday at least once in the last year.

New figures published today show that, of those workers, 35 per cent have had to gone without food for their household at least once over the last year as a result.

The research is published ahead of the expected announcement from the Scottish Government for an income supplement later this week. CAS is encouraging people to claim the benefits they are entitled to, citing previous research showing people in Scotland do not believe the strivers and skivers narrative around benefits, and strongly support the welfare state.

CAS chief executive Derek Mitchell, said: “A rising cost of living, changes to social security and a prevalence of low pay, insecure work means that Scotland is facing unacceptable levels of poverty.

“The Scottish CAB network helps and advocates on behalf of hundreds of thousands of people each year. Our network means we have a footprint in every community in Scotland and we are seeing too many people really struggling, even people in work.

“The research data we publish today exposes the extent of that problem. Nearly half of Scottish workers occasionally run out of money before payday , and one third of those who do have had to go without food as a result. This of course doesn’t include those who are not in work, whose income is may be even less.

“This is an unacceptable situation, and it is clear that serious solutions are required. We hope to see progress on the income supplement this coming week as well as the right to food being enshrined in Scots law through the Good Food Nation Bill this parliament.

“In the meantime, people need to know that their local Citizens Advice Bureau is there to help them, we can ensure people are getting the social security payments they are entitled to as well as check if they could be paying lower bills for utilities and council tax.

“The vast majority of people in Scotland support the principles of our welfare state, that we all pay in and get support when we need it.”