There were 3.8 million people, including a million children, living in destitution in the UK in 2022, with state support ‘relatively absent’, a new report has found.

‘Destitution’, or being unable to afford two or more essentials including food and shelter, is ‘no longer a rare occurrence’ in the UK, according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s (JRF) fourth study on the issue.

Analysis by the charity found that an estimated 1.8 million households lived in destitution at some point in 2022 – an ‘unprecedented’ 68% increase since 2019.

The number of children in destitute households soared by 88% over the three-year period.

The largest increase was in destitute migrant households: a 95% surge. The JRF said a high proportion of these households included children.

Food was lacked most often, with the dominance of food banks as a source of support a ‘stand-out’ finding. For the first time, heating was the second-most lacked essential.

The JRF said the ‘relative absence’ of the state as a source of support, other than providing mainstream welfare benefits, was ‘striking’.

Nearly three-quarters of people experiencing destitution were in receipt of social security payments, which the charity said was evidence of benefit inadequacy.

It said aside from local authority action to avert homelessness reported by a small number of interviewees, there was ‘very little evidence’ of statutory sector services protecting people from destitution.

Action for Children’s director of policy and campaigns, Imran Hussain, said the findings were a ‘disgrace’ and said all benefits should be increased with inflation at an ‘absolute minimum’.