The number of people struggling to afford food is increasing in Lithuania. The government boasts of the decisions to increase people’s incomes, but experts say it is not enough to keep up with inflation.
Food prices in Lithuania have risen by 40 percent over a couple of years. A survey commissioned by the Lithuanian National Anti Poverty Network has found that 14 percent of respondents do not have enough money for food, a 2 percent increase from last year.
It is particularly difficult to afford food for those whose monthly income is below 500 euros. Last year, 23 percent of respondents in this group said they struggled to afford food. This year, the number increased to 30 percent.
“Last year, utility bills were very high, but this year it is food. Most likely, people pay their bills and what is left is for food. We hear from people that they use the promotions in supermarkets a lot. We also hear that they go to charities,” said Aistė Adomavičienė, head of the National Anti Poverty Network.
People can get hot food at charity canteens every day.
“People of pre-retirement age or those who have already retired come and say: ‘My God, we never thought we’d have to go and ask for help.’ Their income is around 200 euros. I think it’s a talent to survive on 200 euros per month,” said Irma Zabulionytė, head of the Panevėžys Family House.
According to NGOs, it is not only pensioners and the disabled who find it difficult to afford food but also the unemployed, single parents, and large families.
“In Lithuania, people spend an average of 20 percent of their income on food, one of the highest in the EU. We are next to Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia. In Western European countries, the share is usually 10 percent,” stressed Jekaterina Navickė, associate professor at the Social Policy Department of Vilnius University.
The Social Security and Labour Minister Monika Navickienė reiterates that pensions and social benefits are increasing. In addition, municipalities can support those in need. However, not everyone who is entitled to social benefits asks for help.
“We now distribute food cards to those in need, and we also finance the food pantries of the Food Bank. We know and see that people are using them,” the minister said.
“Efforts to increase pensions, other incomes, the minimum wage, etc., of course, compensate to some extent, but in the short term, they certainly do not catch up with price increases,” Navickienė admitted.
NGOs say that during the peak of inflation, it was particularly noticeable that social protection in Lithuania was underfunded.
“We can add 5–10 percent every year for these people, but this does not solve the problems,” said Adomavičienė, head of the National Anti Poverty Network.
NGOs also support tax reform, saying that redistributing from those who earn the most is socially just.
According to the State Data Agency, after food, Lithuanians spend the most on housing and transport.
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