More than one-third of families fell into arrears on their energy bills over the past year, according to new research commissioned by the children’s charity Barnardo’s, highlighting continued financial strain linked to the cost-of-living crisis.
The study, titled Cost of Living – Impact on Children 2026, found that 36% of households surveyed were unable to keep up with energy payments at some point during the last 12 months, up from 32% in 2025. Researchers say the increase reflects ongoing pressure from inflation and rising household expenses.
The findings also point to growing food insecurity among families. Around 30% of parents reported that they had, at some stage, been unable to afford enough food for their children, compared with 28% the previous year. In addition, two in five parents said they had borrowed money within the past year to manage essential costs.
Barnardo’s said the research shows a “steady increase” in the number of parents reporting that cost-of-living pressures are affecting their children’s wellbeing. Up to 80% of families said their children had experienced some negative impact, ranging from reduced access to food to limitations on daily activities.
The survey, carried out by Amárach Research among 1,000 parents and guardians across the country, also found that 44% of respondents had skipped meals or reduced portion sizes so their children could eat. Meanwhile, 16% reported using a food bank, up from 12% in 2025.
Energy and transport costs were also highlighted as major concerns. More than half of parents, 55%, said they worried about having enough money for fuel, while 17% reported cutting back or missing medical or healthcare appointments due to financial constraints.
Despite these pressures, one in five parents said they did not believe cost-of-living issues had negatively affected their children. However, the report found that children in single-parent households were significantly more likely to experience hardship compared with those in two-parent families.
Barnardo’s warned that without stronger government intervention, progress towards its goal of ending child poverty by 2030 could be at risk. The charity is calling for increased financial support, including higher Child Support Payments and Fuel Allowance rates, as well as measures to address the higher cost of energy for households using pre-paid meters.
The organisation argues that targeted support is essential to prevent further deterioration in living standards for vulnerable families, particularly as economic pressures continue to affect household budgets across the country.
