The number of people living in what is termed "very deep poverty" across the United Kingdom has reached its highest level in more than thirty years, according to a stark warning from a leading charity. This alarming trend highlights a deepening crisis within the nation's social fabric, despite some superficial improvements in broader poverty statistics.
Record Levels of Severe Deprivation
In its latest comprehensive report, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) reveals that data up to the end of the 2023/24 financial year shows over one in five people in the UK, approximately 14.2 million individuals, are living in poverty. While this overall figure represents a slight decrease from the previous year, the charity emphasises that this masks a more troubling reality.
"Scratch below the surface, there are signs of change: a definitive deepening of poverty," the report states. It details that within this impoverished population, a staggering 6.8 million people—almost half of all those in poverty—are now classified as being in "very deep poverty."
The JRF confirms this is both the highest absolute number and the highest proportion of people in this severe category since it began systematically tracking government data in 1994/95.
Defining the Depths of Poverty
Understanding the distinction between poverty levels is crucial. The JRF acknowledges there is no single perfect measure, but commonly uses relative income poverty as a benchmark.
- Poverty Line: Typically set at households earning roughly 60% of the median household income.
- Deep Poverty: Defined as households earning below 50% of the median income.
- Very Deep Poverty: The most severe category, defined as households earning below 40% of the median income.
According to the Office for National Statistics, the median household income in the UK as of April 2024 was £36,700. This translates to:
- A poverty threshold of approximately £22,070.
- A "very deep poverty" threshold of below £14,680.
Concerns Over Child Poverty Strategy
The report, titled UK Poverty 2026, also raises significant concerns about the future trajectory of child poverty. While it praises the government's decision to remove the controversial two-child benefit cap—calling it "the single most effective policy decision the government could have taken"—it warns that progress is likely to stall after April without further intervention.
Based on Office for Budget Responsibility projections, the headline poverty rate is expected to "remain broadly unchanged," hovering around 21.3% in 2026 and 21.1% in 2029. The charity argues that the current child poverty strategy "is focused on just one part of the picture… this leaves many other groups with persistently high levels of poverty overlooked."
A Failing Welfare System?
Peter Matejic, chief analyst at the JRF, delivered a sobering assessment: "Poverty in the UK is still not just widespread, it is deeper and more damaging than at any point in the last 30 years."
He added, "When nearly half of the people in poverty are living far below the poverty line, that is a warning sign that the welfare system is failing to protect people from harm. There can be no national renewal if deep poverty remains close to record levels."
Government and Political Responses
A government spokesperson responded to the findings, stating: "We understand that too many families are struggling, and we are taking decisive action to address poverty by boosting the national living wage by £900, cutting energy bills by £150 from April, and launching a £1bn crisis and resilience fund to help households stay afloat."
The spokesperson also noted that scrapping the two-child limit, alongside wider strategies, is projected to lift 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030—claiming this would be the biggest reduction in a single parliament since records began.
In contrast, Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesperson Steve Darling described the report as a "devastating indictment of the previous Conservative government's neglect for the most vulnerable in our society." He called for immediate government action on the cost of living, including measures to reduce energy bills and increase the supply of affordable housing.
This report underscores a critical and growing challenge for policymakers, highlighting that while overall poverty figures may show minor fluctuations, the severity of deprivation for millions of Britons is intensifying, reaching depths not seen in a generation.
