The report by Loughborough University for the Child Poverty Action Group has found that the gap between lone parents’ income and what they need to achieve a reasonable standard of living has grown sharply, with income gaps more than doubled in six years for some.
Working lone parents on reasonable pay are unable to reach a decent living standard even if they work full time, it claims.
For lone parents with young children that are not working, they are 40 per cent short of a decent minimum living standard, equivalent to £158 less than they need.
In 2019 the overall cost of a child up to the age of 18 including rent and childcare is £185,000 for lone parents (up 19 per cent since 2012) and £151,000 for couples (up 5.5 per cent since 2012).
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