Credit and debt in low-income families

Against the backdrop of the global 'credit crunch', with recession, increasing unemployment and rising household costs, this study focuses on types of debt, triggers for debt and how people coped, over a period from May 2008 to June 2009.

This study:

• addresses a lack of understanding of how people on low incomes manage credit and debt;
• provides new insights into how debt is defined and experienced over time by households on low incomes; and
• provides information for policy-makers, credit providers and advice services, to help them reduce the numbers of over-indebted people and to support those who experience financial crisis.