Disadvantaged Australians are resorting to skipping, going without basic medicines and eating expired food amid the cost-of-living crisis, a leading charity says.

They were among the shock findings in a survey by The Salvation Army of 3586 vulnerable people who had received food, financial aid or material aid from the organisation.

Families with children were some of the hardest groups struggling to stay above the poverty line, with 62 per cent of parents saying they went without food so their kids could eat. One in 20 people surveyed said they had resorted to eating from bins.

More than 40 per cent couldn’t afford essentials, such as formula and nappies, while a third struggled to cover the costs of basic non-prescription medications, including paracetamol or ibuprofen. 

Among those who received help from the Salvos was a working 30-year-old mum who said she felt “extremely depressed”.

“I feel like I am failing as a mother. I’m a public servant and still cannot provide.

“I have considered quitting my job to save on the cost of petrol, parking, childcare, etc.”

The research also revealed a third of respondents were forced to use buy now, pay later services to cover essentials, including food, utilities and medicine.

The level of hardship extends to the inability to afford fresh food, medication and pay utility bills. Showering less to reduce water bills was reported by 43 per cent of respondents, while one in five were living in darkness to cut electricity charges.

The Salvation Army’s Major Bruce Harmer says the situation is heart breaking. 

“It is truly shocking in a country like Australia that we are seeing these devastating numbers.

“No one should be forced to eat expired food or to eat out of rubbish bins. The fact that over one in twenty of those we surveyed said they were eating from dumpsters breaks our heart.”

The study comes as the The Salvation Army launches its annual Red Shield Appeal, which aims to raise $38 million to ensure the charity’s 2000 services can continue to support Australians doing it tough.