MORE than nine in 10 Australians relying on JobSeeker and other working-age income support payments are struggling to afford groceries, with new research revealing people are skipping meals, falling behind on housing costs and withdrawing from family and friends.
A new Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) survey found 95 per cent were struggling to cover grocery costs.
Three in four respondents (74 per cent) reported cutting back on food, skipping meals, eating smaller portions or taking money from other parts of their household budget simply to eat.
Housing emerged as another major pressure point in the survey, particularly for people renting privately.
ACOSS found 97 per cent of private renters surveyed were experiencing housing stress, defined as spending more than 30 per cent of their income on rent.
More than half were spending over 50 per cent of their income keeping a roof over their heads.
