The study by the Social Metrics Commission (SMC), which uses measures recently adopted by the UK government, found the cost of living crisis had plunged 2 million more people into severe hardship since 2019.

DWP could be forced to make rule change due to 'worrying' new figures

19 Nov 2024, 16:26 by James Rodger, https://www.facebook.com/jamesrodgerjournalist · Birmingham Live

More than one are in three children in poverty as UK deprivation hits a record high. The study by the Social Metrics Commission (SMC), which uses measures recently adopted by the UK government, found the cost of living crisis had plunged 2 million more people into severe hardship since 2019.

It has sparked fresh calls for the new Labour Party government to scrap the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) two-child benefit cap as, of those 5.2 million children, more than half (55%) lived in families with three or more children. About one in four of the children in poverty lived in a single-child household, with the same proportion in a two-child family.

Philippa Stroud, the chair of the commission, said: “Whilst this report shows that poverty rates are now higher than at any point this century, they have never fallen below 21% over that same timeframe. This shows the real challenge facing us all in ensuring that we move the dial on poverty in the UK and ensure that as many people as possible can enjoy a life free of poverty.

“My hope is that people and organisations across society can come together to work with governments of all levels to develop a strategy that can be successful in delivering a significant and sustained reduction in poverty.”

Helen Barnard, the director of policy at the Trussell Trust, which operates more than 1,400 food banks across the UK, ssid: “These worrying figures paint a picture that is reflected in the level of need our food banks are seeing across the UK, as millions are struggling to afford the essentials."

A DWP spokesperson said: “Under the system we have inherited too many families are struggling across the country – that’s why we since coming into office we have taken immediate action to extend the household support fund to prevent a cliff edge of support for the most vulnerable this winter.

“Alongside this, we are increasing the national living wage, uprating benefits and helping over one million households by introducing a fair repayment rate on universal credit deductions, while our child poverty taskforce develops an ambitious strategy to give all children the best start in life.”