In a recent survey of more than 5,500 people, commissioned by Citizens Advice, 36% adults said they were behind on at least one bill, but for those in their 20s that figure climbs to 57%.
Ezgi Polat is one of them. When the 23-year-old, from Ramsey in Cambridgeshire, lost her job 12 months ago, her family weren’t in a position to help, so she quickly fell behind on rent and bills.
“My parents were struggling financially, just like I am, just like everyone else…. I got myself in arrears, a lot of debt because I just couldn’t afford it – £300 was not covering any of my bills at that point.”
Her local bus service was cancelled, making trips to the job centre increasingly difficult, so her benefits were then cut. She was receiving £360 a month in Universal Credit, but with rent at £460, plus utility bills, council tax and living costs, her total debt spiralled to about £4,000.
After turning to Citizens Advice for help, her rent arrears were wiped out by the council three months ago, and she’s agreed to paying £200 a month to both her electricity and water company in repayment plans.
She’s delighted to have now got work in a warehouse and feels like life is getting back on track, but it’s not been an easy road.
“A lot of older people feel like we’re not ambitious enough, or we’re not striving hard enough, but they’d be surprised at the amount of people out there so desperate for work and so desperate for support but with nowhere to turn to,” she says.
The latest government figures show that just under a million young people are currently not in employment, education or training.
A government spokesperson said “We are determined to restore hope and deliver opportunity for young people in every postcode. That’s why we are investing £2.5 billion to create opportunities for young people to earn or learn through more apprenticeships, job grants, and training. And for those moving out for the first time, our Renters’ Rights Act gives tenants more rights and protection from excessive increases.”
But Luke Young, head of policy at Citizens Advice, thinks young people are trapped between rising costs and a difficult jobs market.
“For young people right now the divide is growing bigger between those who do have financial support from families and other networks, and then those who don’t. Young people who don’t have that wider support network are being let down.”
Additional reporting: Adam Clarkson and Elliot Deady
