The UK’s poor population has grown by 700,000 people over the past four years, a new report shows.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) report showed that 400,000 more children and 300,000 more pensioners were now living in poverty, putting the total impoverished population of the UK at 14 million people.
Rising housing costs, constant increase in food and energy prices, debts and the average Briton’s struggle to contribute to a pension were some of the key reasons behind the increase in figures, according to the report.
“The prospects for solving UK poverty are worrying. The continuing rise in employment is no longer leading to lower poverty. Changes to benefits and tax credits for working-age families are reducing the incomes of many of those on low incomes,” the report stated.
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