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<p>The Joseph Rowntree Trust’s report refers to people who were destitute “at some
point” during 2017 not to the number of people living in destitution.</p><p> </p><p>This
Government will continue with its ambitious reforms to the welfare system so that
it encourages people to move into and progress in work, and move towards financial
independence. Compared with 2010, there are now around 880,000 fewer adults in workless
households and 1 million fewer people in absolute poverty (on a before housing costing
costs basis). Of those in the poorest fifth of the population in 2010/11, just over
half had moved further up the income distribution 5 years later.</p><p> </p><p>The
Government is also continuing to help those who face the greatest employment barriers
and who are most at-risk of being in severe and long-term low income, for example,
through individualised, tailored support from Jobcentre Work Coaches. For people with
health conditions or a disability, this support can include early access to the new
Work and Health Programme and Specialist Employability Support. As a safeguard for
people in urgent need, a well-established system of hardship payments, benefit advances
and budgeting loans is in place. <br></p><p>We are also considering how we can develop
and make greater use of the existing suite of official measures of poverty so that
they better identify and track progress on helping those who are most in need of additional
support.</p>
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