Citizens Advice: more than half of people in their 20s are behind on bills
Citizens Advice says more than half of people in their 20s are behind on at least one bill, as young adults without family support seek debt help amid cost of living and job pressures.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
More than half of people in their 20s are behind on at least one bill, according to Citizens Advice, as more young adults seek help with debt, the cost of living and jobs. The charity's figures put the rate in their 20s above the roughly one in three adults who are behind on a bill. It says the pressure is greatest for those who cannot rely on what is known as the bank of mum and dad.
A summer report on the cost of living drew hundreds of replies. It had already found that more than 40% of 25-year-olds now live with their parents, described as the toughest start to adulthood for half a century. The latest accounts highlight what happens to young people without that family safety net.
Eleanor was taken into care at the age of 10. After a lot of hard graft, she gained a first-class degree from the University of Lancashire. She is now job hunting and living in her boyfriend's house, but says finding work in a rural area is hard. She said she is not just looking for a job but 'THE job that you went to uni for'. She described trying to become independent as hitting a wall. Comparing herself with peers who get parental support, she said they have a chairlift while she has to walk.
In Sunderland, 24-year-old Sam left full-time work to care for her mum and is studying part-time. She said little money comes in from caring, she buys no luxuries and rarely does anything fun. Her mum helps where she can, but there is not a lot to go round. Sam criticised the government, saying it is not doing anything to help and is effectively telling people to get into debt.
Eski lost her job after illness last year and her finances quickly spiralled. Her family is far away and her parents are struggling financially too, so she had no support network around her. She said she was putting herself into arrears and debt because she could not afford her bills.
The government says it is investing £2.5 billion to create opportunities for young people to earn or learn. Citizens Advice says the bill arrears data shows that for many in their 20s, the struggle is not only about buying a home but about covering life's essentials.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One |
|---|---|
| Around a third of adults are behind on at least one bill, rising to more than half among people in their 20s. | |
| Citizens Advice reported that more people in their 20s are seeking help because of debt, the cost of living and jobs. | |
| The government said it is investing £2.5 billion to create opportunities for young people to earn or learn. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The BBC ONE West report led with Citizens Advice figures and built the segment around young adults who cannot rely on the bank of mum and dad. It focused on care leaver Eleanor, young carer Sam and Eski, who lost her job after illness, using their testimony to frame debt as a structural problem rather than a personal failing. It included the government's £2.5 billion skills and opportunities investment, but gave more airtime to criticism that young people are being left to fall into debt.
- “Those without a bank of mum and dad are no longer just struggling to buy a home, but to cover life's essentials.”
- “The government aren't doing anything to help you. They're just basically saying, just get into debt.”
- “It's unfair on me, it's unfair on my parents.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.