This Joseph Rowntree Foundation report defines destitution in the UK, looking at how many people are affected, who they are, and the main pathways in and out of destitution.
It looks at the impact and experience of those people directly affected.
The report considers:
- how 'destitution' should be defined in the contemporary UK context;
- how much destitution there is in the UK;
- who is affected by destitution;
- how this has changed over time;
- the main pathways into and out of destitution;
- the experiences and impacts of destitution for the people directly affected.
When examining the routes into destitution the report finds that disability and ill health are important factors. Meeting additional costs, problems with benefits and difficulty accessing and keeping work contributed to many people’s situations. Costs of housing and energy coupled with benefit delays and sanctions were also key factors. For those with complex needs, such as people with mental health problems, the situation was worse.