The cost of living is causing low-income households in the Central West to buckle, a recent survey by the NSW Council of Social Service (NCOSS) showed. 

The survey conducted among 1,086 people living on low income in NSW showed that 56 percent had not been able to pay utilities on time at least once in the last 12 months and 37 percent went without prescribed medication due to the expenses involved. 

Low income is defined as households living on 50 to 80 percent of the median household income after tax and housing costs which comes out at between $560 to $896 per week. 

According to the survey, the hardest hit by the cost of living crisis are single parents with nine out of ten going without essentials in the past 12 months. 

"We’ve definitely seen an increase in demand from our services and we've seen a significant increase in people who are coming to us for the first time," Sarah Wilson Regional Director of North West NSW for the charity organisation St Vincent de Paul Society said. 

The area covers around 25 welfare operations in NSW stretching from Gilgandra to Lithgow.

Ms Wilson said that in the past 12 months, they helped 6,300 people with donations worth around $720,000. 

The survey showed that NSW children were the ones who had to bear the brunt of the cost of living crisis with parents having to cut back on spending for meals, essential healthcare, and education resources.

"Children are among the most vulnerable in our population, so if we have any concerns at all about the care or safety of children, then we basically escalate our action and support." 

The majority of people, 87 percent, are looking for food assistance, according to Ms Wilson. 

"For people who aren't in a predicament, they will drop luxury items, such as holidays, or extra clothes but for these families, it's the difference between being able to put food on the table or not."

Even families with two parents both working full-time jobs are struggling to make ends meet. 

"By the time they pay for their rent and other utility expenses, they've not got enough money to put food on the table," Ms Wilson said.

"Everything has become dearer, so people who 12 months ago could make ends meet with their wages aren't able to now." 

Not only are more people asking for donations, it also becomes tougher to get donations.

"We just ask people to be as generous as they can. We understand that it's really hard for people to donate because times are tough for everyone. Every little bit helps."