London — Britons from black and ethnic minority backgrounds are among several groups facing disproportionately high living costs because of the likelihood of being hit by the “poverty premium”, academics have said.

A study found that the risk of people on low incomes being charged more for banking and credit, among other things, was greater among those with protected characteristics – such as race, age and disability, as well as health, migration history, sex and religion – than in those without, the Guardian writes.

The research, carried out by Bristol University academics and published on Tuesday by the campaign group Fair by Design, highlights the burden society places on some of those least equipped to shoulder it.

While all people on low incomes face being hit with the poverty premium, the study found the risk was greater among those with protected characteristics.

For example, the academics said, people of colour, single parents and others were over-represented in lower paid, less secure work – as well as in poorer neighbourhoods and the private rental sector. Consequently, they were less likely to be able to save money and more likely to face either restricted or more expensive access to banking, credit and insurance.

In practice, that means they were likely to be forced to pay more for their fuel because they were less likely to be able to pay by direct debit, which was usually cheaper, or because they were more likely to have to use a prepaid meter.