For many families, the holidays are the most peaceful and happiest time of the year. But for many more, it can also be one of the most stressful. That’s because more and more families are dealing with Christmas Hardships. In other words, they don’t have the financial means to give or at least supply their families with everything they want or need during the holiday season. In other words, the dinner table has less food and there is even less presents under the tree.

According to The Guardian, there are 100,000 children in the United Kingdom that are at risk of Christmas hardship this year. That’s because there is a huge delay in universal credit, which means many families are forced to borrow in order to make ends meet. They can’t think about buying the newest Nintendo Switch game or the latest accessories because they are more worried about surviving – or at least keeping the lights on – until next year.

The publication says that the Peabody Trust is looking to reduce the minimum wait time so at least 44,000 families out there can borrow whatever is necessary to make it through the holidays. But it looks like that won’t happen anytime soon. One study found that 70 percent of low-income tenants living in London had no savings in their bank accounts. Many families are forced to use food banks or payday loans as they try to make it to the next week with country’s cash crisis.

Peabody Policy officer Anya Martin says that the British government is looking for ways to change their universal credit system but unfortunately, it’s not going to happen anytime soon. The five-week wait for credit payments is causing a significant hardship for many families and especially ones with small children.

She said: “People having to use their benefits to repay the government means that this hardship continues even when regular payments have kicked in. Reducing the waiting period to two weeks from the start of a claim would make a huge difference to thousands of vulnerable families across the country.”

Of course, many politicians are working to make changes, as they believe that no one should be without money during the Christmas holiday because their payments are delayed. That’s why they are doing everything in their power to make sure that anyone applying for Universal Credit can get an advance of up to 100 percent upfront, and payable the same day if it’s necessary. Sure, it’s hard to believe in Christmas miracles these days, but if there’s one thing that is still alive, it’s the true meaning and spirit of the holidays.

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