Call for benefits increase as Tottenham Foodbank usage up 16%

The London Assembly member for Enfield and Haringey wants to see the Universal Credit rate raised amid soaring foodbank demand

Volunteer picking items from Food parcel list — credit Trussell Trust

A London Assembly member has called for an increase to Universal Credit following new data showing more than 4,500 foodbank parcels were given out over the past year in Haringey.

Figures show that usage of Tottenham Foodbank jumped 16% since last year, with 644 more parcels given out this year than last.

A total of 4,680 were provided to Haringey residents from the Trussell Trust foodbank between April 2023 and March 2024. Of these, 1594 were given out to children, a 14.3% increase.

Across London, there has been a 17.1% increase in foodbank use since last year, with 454,750 parcels were given out, a jump from 388,330 the year before. Five years ago, only 167,723 parcels were needed, an increase of 37%.

Joanne McCartney, the London Assembly member for Enfield and Haringey, says the low rate of Universal Credit drives demand on foodbanks due to the significant gap between incomes and expenses, with 55% of people receiving Universal Credit ran out of food last month and couldn’t afford more.

Of those claiming the benefit in Haringey, 39.3% are in work, with low pay, insecure hours and poor rights at work contributing to their need to claim the benefit. McCartney says an increase to the payment will lessen demand on foodbanks and will give claimants the dignity that comes from being able to afford basic goods.

“These figures show the scale of the government’s failure to get to grips with the cost of living crisis,” said McCartney.

“We know that the meagre rate of Universal Credit is one of the biggest drivers of foodbank use. It is a travesty that more than half of claimants cannot put food on the table. The government must show some compassion and uplift the value of Universal Credit.

“I’d like to thank foodbank volunteers and donors across London. Your work is helping reduce hardship across our city and protect the dignity of vulnerable Londoners – which, in the current crisis, is more important than ever.”

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