The Shifting Tide of Support: How Bank Holiday Changes Expose a Larger Issue The UK's cost of living crisis has been a persistent narrative throughout 2026, with households struggling to make ends meet amidst rising prices and stagnant wages.
The August bank holiday payment changes for millions of benefit recipients are the latest reminder that this struggle is far from over. A record 7.
4 million households – nearly one in three people – are now unable to afford at least one essential item, according to research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.