Revealed: Hundreds of Northamptonshire households could not afford basics like food every week in 2019

'No one in our society should be unable to afford to eat or keep clean and sheltered - we can and must do more'
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Around 1,700 households in Northamptonshire could not afford basics like food or electricity every week in 2019, it is estimated.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation blamed flaws in the welfare system for a 54 per cent rise in destitution in the UK since 2017 while the coronavirus pandemic may push many even closer to the brink.

The anti-poverty charity revealed 0.54 per cent of households in Northamptonshire suffered destitution every week last year.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation found a 54 per cent rise in destitution in the UK between 2017 and 2019. Photo: ShutterstockThe Joseph Rowntree Foundation found a 54 per cent rise in destitution in the UK between 2017 and 2019. Photo: Shutterstock
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation found a 54 per cent rise in destitution in the UK between 2017 and 2019. Photo: Shutterstock

Analysis by the JPIMedia Data Team, which this newspaper is part of, used the number of households in the county to estimate how many would be considered destitute.

Northampton had 700 destitute households every week - or 0.76 per cent - compared to 0.24 per cent in South Northamptonshire.

Charity 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."

Destitution occurs when a household cannot afford two or more of the essentials that we all need to live, like shelter, food, heating and clothing.

Inadequate benefit levels and debt deductions are identified as the main reasons for the increase in the foundation and Heriot-Watt University's joint report published last week.

Particularly the repayable advance many people are forced to borrow to cover the minimum five-week wait for Universal Credit, which the researchers think should be abolished.

Suzanne Fitzpatrick, from the university's Institute for Social Policy, Housing, Equalities Research, said: "The sheer scale of the issue is unacceptable in one of the world's richest countries and starkly reveals the devastating impact of the gaps, flaws and deductions in Universal Credit and other aspects of the social security system that lead to destitution by design."

While destitution was already rising, Covid-19 has exacerbated issues and brought new pressures which the Government has had to temporarily remedy.

The foundation is calling for the £20 per week uplift to Universal Credit and Working Tax Credits introduced in March to be made permanent instead of being stopped in April.

Half of all destitute households were receiving or had applied for Universal Credit in 2019 and the increase has helped people to afford food, electricity and other essentials during the pandemic.

Ms Barnard said: “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.

"And by working with people with experience of receiving social security, the Government can re-design our systems so that they keep people afloat, rather than drag people down.”

A government spokesperson said it had raised the living wage for all at the start of the pandemic but was continuing to assess the situation.