Insecure lives: The growth and impact of multiple insecurities

‘Multiple insecurity’ is insecurity in more than one important dimension of life, such as money, work, housing, food, health or care. This research explored the prevalence and impact of multiple insecurities, through literature, analysis of a data from Understanding Society over 2009/10-2022/23, and interviews with people experiencing multiple insecurities. Rates of multiple insecurity fell after the Global Financial Crisis. However, from 2015/16, financial insecurity rose, and from 2020/21 financial and housing insecurity rose sharply, resulting in a rise in multiple insecurities. In 2022/23, 9% of UK adults were affected by combined financial, health and work insecurities, the highest percentage in the whole period. People who were sick and disabled, unemployed, lone parents, lone adults or in deprived areas had much higher rates. The decade of rising multiple insecurity appears to reflect the complex impacts of austerity, the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, policies to manage their effects and the withdrawal of these policies. Amongst people experiencing multiple insecurities, rates of wellbeing problems were two or three times the average. Interviewees described the impacts on their wellbeing and on their ability to improve their families’ situations or to contribute to productivity and growth. Existing policies have failed to prevent the big increases in financial and multiple insecurities seen in recent years. Investment in affordable housing, care, support for special needs, reduced waiting times in the NHS, good jobs and higher incomes. called for by many diverse bodies, will reduce insecurities. The report also identifies means to reduce fluctuation and uncertainty specifically.