Hull listed as one of the worst areas for child poverty

In total about 2.4 million people experienced extreme hardship in 2019, according to a report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

The JRF said the figure represents an "appalling'' rise of 54% over 2017 levels.

The number includes 550,000 children, a 52% increase in the two years to 2019, the probe found.

The JRF defines destitution as being when a household cannot afford two or more essentials such as shelter, food, heating and clothing.

The report said that families living with children are increasingly likely to experience destitution, and that one in seven people, 14%, living in extreme hardship are in paid work.

The situation is becoming more concentrated in northern regions, the study said.

The way in which Universal Credit (UC) is delivered was identified as one of the "key drivers'' of the situation along with "inadequate benefits''.

The JRF expressed concern about the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on people with little money, and called on the Government to retain the £20-a-week boost to UC introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic and not carry out plans to stop the extra payments next April.

It stated:

"With evidence of rising debt and hardship since Covid-19 hit, there are fears that the pandemic may have pushed people experiencing destitution closer to the brink.

"The JRF is calling for urgent action to make the £20-per-week uplift to Universal Credit permanent, to stem the rising tide of destitution.

"Half of people experiencing destitution were claiming or had applied for UC when the survey was carried out.

"Debt deductions from benefit payments are identified as a key driver of destitution, in particular the repayable advance many are forced to take up to cover the minimum five-week wait for the first payment of Universal Credit.

"These debt deductions reduce people's incomes to such an extent that many are pushed into destitution.''

Single people face the highest risks of destitution, but lone parents are now more likely to experience extreme hardship than before, the study said.

The JRF found that the highest average rates of destitution are in the North East, followed by London and the North West.

Yorkshire and Humber, the West Midlands and Scotland also have "relatively high'' rates of destitution.

Middlesbrough, Manchester, Hull, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham and Blackpool are among areas with the highest estimated rates.

JRF director Helen Barnard said:

"It is appalling that so many people are going through this distressing and degrading experience, and we should not tolerate it.

"No-one in our society should be unable to afford to eat or keep clean and sheltered. We can and must do more.

"The pandemic has shown just how much we want to look out for each other in difficult times, but the sobering truth is that even before Covid-19 hit, the number of people in destitution was rising sharply.

"The Government can act now to confirm that the #20 boost added to Universal Credit will be made permanent and extended to people receiving legacy benefits.''

A Government spokesperson said:

"Making sure every child gets the best start in life is central to our efforts to level up opportunity across the country, which is why we have raised the living wage for all and boosted welfare support by billions, including £170 million to help families stay warm and well-fed over Christmas.''

Labour's shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

"No child in Britain should be hungry or without essentials.

"The Government must do more to support struggling families who are facing real hardship this winter.

"They must see sense and scrap the planned cut to Universal Credit, which will take £20 a week from six million families.

"We urge the Government to end the disastrous five-week wait which is pushing people into debt, as well as increase support for those on legacy benefits, such as carers and disabled people, who have had no additional support throughout this crisis.''

The JRF said the report was based on a "large-scale survey'' which was set up to estimate the levels of destitution at the end of 2019. It also included interviews with 70 people in spring 2020 after the pandemic hit.