A report said that the effects of poverty in the UK cost the average taxpayer £1,200 a year, and the UK £78bn in all. Joseph Rowntree Foundation analysed how poverty affected different government services, and found the NHS to be hit the most as those living in poverty were "more likely" to suffer from illnesses.
The foundation said its total bill for poverty did not include money spent on benefits, and added the research conducted by Heriot-Watt and Loughborough universities, was the first to look at how much poverty across all age groups costs different government departments.
The report outlined the following key costs:
£29bn on treating health conditions associated with poverty. £10bn on schools providing initiatives such as free school meals and pupil premium for poorer students. £9bn on the police and criminal justice systems dealing with the higher incidence of crime in more deprived areas. £7.5bn on children's services and early years provision, such as free childcare for deprived two-year-olds. £4.6bn on adult social care and £4bn on housing.
