Surge in requests for help reported as nearly 30% of 18- to 24-year-olds miss three or more credit or bill payments
A record 6.7 million people in Britain are in financial difficulty, a campaign group has claimed, as the cost of living crisis pushes more households into debt.
A survey for Debt Justice found that 13% of adults had missed three or more credit or bill payments in the last six months, a figure that rose to 29% among 18- to 24-year-olds and a quarter of 25- to 34-year-olds.
The claim is supported by data from charities showing a surge in requests for help with problem debts, and official figures published on Friday showing an increase in the number of people becoming insolvent.
Crosslight Advice, a charity providing debt and money advice in London and the south-east of England, said inquiries were up by a fifth in the first two months of 2024 compared with the same period last year, reflecting a growing need from those struggling to make ends meet.
Although energy bills and some other prices have fallen from their peak, rents and mortgages are much higher than before the crisis and are straining household budgets.
