"Poverty in Britain has deepened"! - Report: Around 6.8 million people now live in "very deep poverty"
Poverty in Britain has deepened, according to a report, with approximately 6.8 million people now living in "very deep poverty", the highest level in three decades.
"Very deep poverty" refers to households with incomes after housing costs below 40% of the UK average, which amounts to around £16,400 a year for a couple with two young children.
The report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), which carries out research aimed at tackling poverty in Britain, said the overall poverty rate in the UK fell slightly from 24% in 1994/95 to 21% in 2023/24, but "very deep poverty" rose from 8% to 10%, now making up almost half of all people in poverty.
The report said child poverty has also risen, with 4.5 million children in the UK, rising for the third year in a row. It follows a decision in November by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves to remove a two-child limit on welfare payments in April. The move, which officials estimate will cost £3.1 billion, is aimed at reducing child poverty rates by increasing benefits for families.
The cap, introduced by the Conservative government in 2017, has meant that many low-income families do not receive further benefits when they have a third or subsequent child.
The JRF welcomed the lifting of the two-child limit but warned that this "cannot be the only step", warning that without further action on the government's strategy to end child poverty, progress is likely to stall.
According to the report, children remain disproportionately affected by poverty, along with people with disabilities, while certain minority groups, such as the Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities in Britain, experience particularly high rates of poverty.
Britain's economy grew by 0.3% more than expected in November, the strongest monthly growth since June. However, inflation rose more than expected to 3.4% in December, but is expected to slow significantly soon.
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