Helping households in debt

Article

Household debt is increasing in the UK. The Covid-19 pandemic has created precisely the kind of shock that turns manageable debt into problem debt, and forces people to enter into debt, or increase their borrowing.

In this report, we examine how the financial impacts of Covid-19 may affect people in different demographic groups and regions and explore experiences of debt and household finance before and during the pandemic.

Across the UK, certain demographic groups are more vulnerable to financial difficulties as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. This includes people who were already worse off before Covid-19, showing another way in which the pandemic has deepened existing inequalities. We also found variations between UK regions in levels of pre-pandemic indebtedness and vulnerability to problem debt.

Our recommendations focus on actions to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic and to help people manage their finances. These should be read in the context of a view that the government needs to support adequate incomes through job protection and creation, and strengthening the social safety net.

Related items

  1. Doctor with patient for consultation, medical advice or procedure at clinic

    Taken to heart: Inequalities in heart disease in Scotland

    More than 7.6 million people across the UK live with cardiovascular disease (CVD), around twice as many as live with Alzheimer’s disease and cancer combined. 
  2. A beautiful sunset in the Scottish highlands with renewable energy wind turbines far into the horizon

    Skills passports: An essential part of a fair transition

    This month, government will publish its Clean Energy Workforce Strategy. This plan covers two aims. First, filling the growing demand for skills in clean energy industries is essential to keep on track to reach the government’s clean power…
  3. The Bank of England is watched over by a statue of the Duke of Wellington seated on his horse

    Fixing the leak: How to end the £22 billion annual taxpayer losses at the Bank of England

    The Bank of England increased its interest rates over recent years, aimed at reducing inflation. But this has also had an unintended effect on the Bank of England’s massive government bond buying – ‘quantitative easing’ – programme.