Making Cents: If debt is building up, face up to it with help from Mabs

"People are unable to renew their health and life insurance. Couples with children are having to use their Covid payments to pay the mortgage, only to find they are left with nothing at the end of the month."

People who have never previously needed such support are turning to charities for help. Picture: Pexels

Rising case numbers and the strain on our health service are the issues that understandably dominate the headlines, but the ongoing pandemic is also leading to huge financial strain in thousands of homes around the country.

There has been much conversation around the fact that the highest level of Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment (PUP), €350 per week, is much higher than standard unemployment support, which equates to €18,200 per annum.