New research: public debt is deepening poverty for lone parent and disabled families

The report, based on research led by Prof Morag Treanor, reveals that nearly half of all households on Universal Credit face deductions due to debt, amounting to a staggering £210 million annually in Scotland alone. Lone parents and families with a disabled child are among those most at risk, particularly when it comes to council tax and benefit arrears, fuel debt and food insecurity.

The findings show that debt owed to public bodies, such as local authorities and the DWP, is not just a financial burden, but a driver of poverty, pushing families further into hardship and making it harder to recover.

As the UK Government proposes reforms to disability and income support, OPFS and Aberlour are urging action to stop these families being left behind.

This joint report by Aberlour Children’s Charity, One Parent Families Scotland and Trussell builds on previous public debt research. It focuses on disability and lone parenthood, individually and in relation to public debt (or debt to public bodies, such as council tax, rent arrears and even school meal debt), and the breakdown of types and amounts of public debt, held in Citizens Advice Scotland’s data.

Download the full report below or read the briefing paper.