Welfare recipients skipping medication, meals and hot showers due to cost of living, Acoss survey finds

Over half of all respondents to an Acoss survey said they were eating less or skipping meals due to rising costs, along with difficulties accessing medicine or transport. Photograph: Amer Ghazzal/Rex/Shutterstock

Welfare recipients kept the heater off during winter and cannot afford medication or medical care as they struggle to meet the rising cost of living, a new survey has found.

An Australian Council of Social Service (Acoss) survey of 449 people living on the jobseeker, youth allowance and parenting payment included the “dire” findings that those on Centrelink payments were skipping medication, meals and even having fewer hot showers.