BOMAD bailout: COVID-19 leads parents to withdraw £2.75 billion from children's savings
4min read
18 Sep 2020
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  • Nearly a quarter of parents have had to rely on the Bank of Son and Daughter since lockdown began, by dipping into their children's savings
  • Overall, every day in lockdown has seen families collectively withdraw £17 million from children's accounts
  • Families expect to take a further £3.4 billion from their children's savings in the next few months to help keep afloat
  • Food costs, utility bills and childcare are the leading costs parents are struggling with
  • 9.3 million parents have had to stop regularly saving money for their children

New research1 from Direct Line Life Insurance reveals the extent to which families have needed to rely on their children's savings to get them through the tough financial situation caused by coronavirus. Since the beginning of lockdown on 23rd March, parents have had to raid their children's savings to the total sum of £2.75 billion to support the family financially.

While the Bank of Mum and Dad is one of the UK's largest lenders2, Direct Line's research suggests that it needs a bailout from the Bank of Son and Daughter, as the impact of reduced salaries (15 per cent) and unexpected unemployment (12 per cent) leads many parents to try and find income elsewhere. In fact, nearly eight million parents (23 per cent) have had to dip into their child's savings since lockdown began. On average, each family has needed around £700 from their child's savings account, which equates to a total sum across the UK of nearly £17 million for every day of lockdown.

Unfortunately, the lasting impact of the pandemic means families expect to take even more from their children's savings in the future. On average, families predict needing to withdraw £862 from their children, which equates to a total of £3.4 billion to help keep them afloat during these difficult economic times.

Day to day living costs are the driver behind parents needing to access their child's savings, with nearly a third (29 per cent) doing so to pay for food costs and similar number using the money for utility bills (27 per cent) and to help cover childcare (27 per cent). One in eight (12 per cent) have struggled to pay their mortgage or rent or keep up with debt repayments during lockdown and have needed help covering these costs.

Table one: Reasons for parents using children's savings

Reason

Percentage of parents who need to use money for this

Number of parents who need to use money for this

Food costs

29 per cent

2.48 million

Utility bills

27 per cent

2.32 million

Childcare costs

27 per cent

2.26 million

Clothing

21 per cent

1.79 million

Travel costs

20 per cent

1.63 million

Property maintenance costs

19 per cent

1.58 million

Paying for a pet

15 per cent

1.29 million

Council tax payments

14 per cent

1.21 million

Debt payments

12 per cent

1.05 million

Rent or mortgage payments

12 per cent

1.03 million

Source: Direct Line Life Insurance 2020

The impact of coronavirus on children's savings could be profound, as not only have parents had to use existing savings but many have also had to stop their regular payments. Overall, more than a quarter (27 per cent) of parents have had to stop regularly setting aside money for their children since the beginning of lockdown, some 9.3 million people.

On average, parents used to set aside around £130 a month for their children. While many parents saved money for their children to spend as they wish (39 per cent), others started saving for something specific for their child's future, like a property deposit (27 per cent) or to help cover university fees (24 per cent). One in six (16 per cent) wanted this money to help their child buy their first car.

Unfortunately, over a fifth (22 per cent) of parents don't believe they will be in a position to replenish lost savings in future which means children's savings accounts across the country will lose an estimated £960 million between September and December 2020 alone. This could have a serious long-term impact if money was set aside to help with a child's future.

Chloe Couper, Business Manager at Direct Line Life Insurance, commented: 'The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has been severe and unfortunately means many families are facing tough financial decisions. Widespread redundancies, furloughing and pay reductions have resulted in many households across the country having to cope on a lower income and try to reduce their spending. While it is understandable that parents feel they need to utilise any savings they and their children have to cover costs, this could have a negative long-term impact on their children if this money was being set aside for things like university fees or property deposits.

'2020 has shown us that worst case scenarios sometimes happen, and we may not know what's around the corner despite best laid plans. Many people will now be thinking about the future and how they would provide for their family if anything happened to them and a life insurance policy can help provide this peace of mind.'

- ENDS -

Notes to Editors

1 Research conducted by Opinium among a nationally representative sample of 2,000 UK adults between 28th August - 1st September 2020

2 'The Bank of Mum and Dad: How It Really Works' report for the Family Building Society by the London School of Economics, January 2019

For further information please contact:

Naomi Kombe

PR Manager

Direct Line Group

Tel: 01651 832895

Email: [email protected]

Direct Line

Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel, pet and life insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line.

Direct Line life insurance policies are underwritten by AIG, part of the American International Group UK Limited, registered office: The AIG Building, 58 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4AB. American International Group UK Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority (FRN number 781109. You can check the FCA register at www.fca.org.uk/register or call the FCA on 0800 111 6768.

Customers can find out more about Direct Line products or get a quote by calling 0800 077 8297 or visiting www.directline.com/life-cover.

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Direct Line Insurance Group plc published this content on 18 September 2020 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 01 October 2020 16:59:01 UTC