The JobSeeker allowance, which had been increased in response to job losses due to COVID, was cut by $50 a week on April 1.

"A fairly high percentage are missing meals and not having heating because they don't have the money," said major Young.

"We had a lady talk to us today, she's had an unexpected water bill and she simply couldn't pay it.

"What she has to live on is very minimal."

He said that as a renter, the woman paid her water bills via the real estate agent and that a late payment "could affect her accommodation because I don't know that real estate agents will have the patience".

It was a particularly stressful time for men and women aged over 45 who had lost their jobs during the worst of the COVID pandemic.

"A lot of people have lost jobs that won't come back, and are at risk of long-term unemployment," said major Young.

He said the government's increased JobSeeker rate during COVID was "not sustainable", but that the current rate was too low.

"It needs to be higher - not by a massive amount, but it does need to be higher."

He said people requested assistance with food ("that is always first") and then electricity bills, and finally other utility bills.

The Salvation Army advised people to try and buy appliances that used less power.

"But even then you have to have the money to buy a new energy efficient appliance and that's not always possible."

The Salvation Army will launch the Red Shield Appeal on Wednesday at Whitney's Restaurant next to Bloomfield Medical Centre.

The guest speaker at the Red Shield Appeal launch lunch is local businessman Frank O'Halloran.

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