Estimated 4m people in England and Wales ‘are trapped in a negative budget’

Yvonne Parks, a debt team manager at Citizens Advice, south Gloucestershire, said: “I’ve seen it time and time again – missed bills lead to arrears, enforcement, deductions or credit damage. Stress and poor mental health reduce someone’s ability to manage finances or seek work. People fall into a cycle of crisis, repeatedly needing emergency help such as food banks, fuel vouchers or help with housing payments.