More young people are struggling with debt problems, according to Citizens Advice, which received 700,000 enquiries in a year from those under the age of 25. The debt charity announced a 14 per cent rise in housing-related enquiries from this age group, with 26,204 enquiries made about privately-rented property between April 2010 and March 2011, up 10 per cent on the previous 12 months.
Housing benefit became the most sought-after form of advice with under 25’s making 27,841 enquiries about it, up two per cent on the previous 12 months.Enquiries about debt relief orders, a bankruptcy alternative, also rocketed by 27 per cent to 19,681 throughout the 12-month period and 18,682 enquiries were made about telephone and broadband debts, a seven per cent increase.
Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: “This group are finding it particularly hard at the moment, and we’re seeing their money worries starting to develop into real housing problems and even homelessness.”Citizens Advice also revealed that Under 25’s seeking advice on benefits made eight per cent more enquiries overall during the 12-month period.
Enquiries about Employment and Support Allowance for those unable to work because of poor health leapt by to 12,968, a 42 per cent increase. At present more than a quarter of all homelessness problems recorded by Citizens Advice come from under 25’s.