‘Very deep poverty’ in Britain hits worst level in 30 years, report says
Report reveals that nearly 7 million people are living on well below the UK median income as the nation’s poorest get even poorer
Poverty in Britain has deepened, according to a report released on Tuesday, 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 an after-housing-costs income below 40 per cent of the UK median, amounting to around £16,400 (US$22,446.68) a year for a couple with two young children.
The report by Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), which conducts research aimed at solving poverty in Britain, said the overall poverty rate in the UK fell slightly from 24 per cent in 1994/95 to 21 per cent in 2023/24, but “very deep poverty” edged up from 8 per cent to 10 per cent, now accounting for almost half of everyone in poverty.
The report said child poverty has also climbed, with 4.5 million children in poverty, rising for the third year in a row.
It follows Finance Minister Rachel Reeves’ November decision to scrap a two-child limit on welfare payments in April, a move that officials estimate would cost £3.1 billion aimed at reducing child poverty rates by increasing benefits for families.
The cap, introduced by the Conservative government in 2017, has meant many low-income families do not receive further benefits when they have a third child or subsequent children.