More than a third of people trapped in problem debt are unable to buy essentials such as food
Citizens Advice helped more than 400,000 people across England and Wales with debt problems in 2025 – and said around 13,300 people have already turned to it for help with debt in the first working week of 2026 alone. The charity said it helped 407,416 people in England and Wales with debt problems during 2025, marking a 44% jump compared with 282,564 people supported by the charity in 2021, when the cost-of-living crisis was taking hold.
Since then, the average amount owed has surged by more than a third (36%), from £6,500 to £8,900….