Students skipping meals and working multiple jobs to meet living costs

Housing Crisis / 15 September 2026 Firefighters' union to continue discussions around social housing union 15 September 2026 TUC Congress 2026 / 15 September 2026 Colombia’s new government part of Trump-led far-right movement internationally, delegates hear 15 September 2026 Wales / 15 September 2026 Oppositions parties react with fury to Plaid's plans to ‘break up the UK’ 15 September 2026 Economy / 15 September 2026 Vacancies drop to fresh five-year low as small firms remain under pressure 15 September 2026 TUC Congress 2026 / 15 September 2026 The temperature is too damn high! 15 September 2026 Unions to campaign for legally enforceable maximum workplace temperatures

STUDENTS are skipping meals and working multiple jobs as maintenance loans fall short, a report revealed today.

Save the Student said the government should ensure loan reforms include increasing maintenance funding to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.

Its survey found 63 per cent of students reported skipping meals, and 9 per cent used a foodbank in 2025-26.

More than one in four have at least two jobs, while nearly half have considered dropping out over money.

Tom Allingham of Save the Student said: “Maintenance loans have always fallen short of living costs, but this has become exponentially worse in recent years.

“Today, following significant real-terms cuts, almost two-thirds of respondents are skipping meals to save money, over a quarter work two or more jobs, and countless others speak of extreme social isolation due to financial pressures.”

Students spend an average of £1,146 a month, leaving a shortfall of £467, the survey showed.

Some 77 per cent also worry about loan repayments.

A Department for Education spokesperson said it is “taking decisive action” such as increasing maximum maintenance loans and reintroducing targeted maintenance grants.

Meanwhile, separate research by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) shows a huge divide in the availability of suitable jobs for young people across Britain, with some areas having just 46 vacancies for every 1,000 18 to 24-year-olds.

The think tank warned that the crisis over the high number of young people not in education, training or employment (Neet) cannot be solved without creating opportunities in the places that lack them.