This website uses cookies for anonymised analytics and for account authentication. See our privacy and cookies policies for more information.





The voice of Scotland’s vibrant voluntary sector

Published by Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

TFN is published by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6BB. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Registration number SC003558.

The UK in 2020: where poor families just get poorer

This news post is about 4 years old
 

Families already living under the poverty line have been pushed deeper into into destitution

The poorest families have fallen even deeper into poverty over the past eight years.

A new study shows that families already living under the poverty line have been pushed deeper into into destitution since 2012.

Analysis from the Child Poverty Action Group has found that the number of children in poverty in households where all parents work full time has doubled across the UK, from 200,000 in 2012/13 to 400,000 in 2017/18.

The study of Department for Work and Pensions data shows the average poverty gap - ie how far below the poverty line poor families are living – jumped by 30% between 2012/13 and 2017/18.

That means that after housing costs are taken into account, poor families are now on average £73 per week (28%) below the poverty line, up from £56 in 2012/13.

John Dickie, director of Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland, said: “Not only is child poverty rising across the UK but poor families are also deeper in poverty than they were just seven years ago. That should sound alarm bells for the new UK government’s committed to levelling up because it means families in poverty are further away from escaping it.

“Many of these families are living well below the poverty line. Their children are going without the basics of a good childhood with all the lost opportunities that brings for them and for our wider economy.

“The new UK government has committed to reducing child poverty. It must now bring forward clear policies for achieving this, starting with a restoration in the value of the key benefits families in and out of work rely on. Here in Scotland these figures show how important the new Scottish Child Payment will be, and how crucial it is to ensure take up of this vital lifeline is maximised”

 

Comments

0 0
ValiJamalPhD
almost 4 years ago
SAD read. I read Guardian to look at their analysis of the impact of C19 on the UK economy. Yesterday the IMF came out with their report on the global impact and predicted a contraction of 5% in the UK GDP. Chancellor quotes a figure from his budget outfit which projects a decline of ONE-THIRD in the next three months. I think that is more like it. He said unemployment will increase by 2 million. He doesn't tell us - and journalists at his press conference did not ask - that that means an increase from 1.3m to 3.3m, unemployment increasing from 3.7% to 9.4%. And what about poverty, what about income inequality. Of course the declines will be felt by the adult workers. In 2017 the poverty rate amongst them was estimated at 21.6%. Now-now? I'd dare 40%. Poverty rate among children was put at 32.6% in 2017 - now? Among pensioners - the third category - 11.4%, overall 22%. Guardian did not make any of the connections. I shall write to them also for neglecting to look at the catastrophe situation in all subSaharan countries, and zero down on Uganda where I live. Chancellor’s family came from Uganda and before that from India. India doing even worse. Vali Jamal PhD from Kampala Uganda. I studied at Norwich Tec, A-levels, 1958-60 and Trinity College Cambridge, BA Economics, 1961-64, so England is still in my heart - and mind!
0 0
Nagete Dabo Jabula
almost 4 years ago
hello there, can i get in contact with any of these families so that i can help
0 0
Julie Hawkins
about 4 years ago
Thank you for raising awareness of this. People are living an entire lifetime without living. We must dispel misconceptions about this being a lifestyle choice.
Commenting is now closed on this post