Child poverty hits record high

The latest ‘Households below average income’ statistics, published yesterday (25 March), show the number of children in poverty was at a 11-year high before the Coronavirus pandemic hit the UK.

According to the figures, the number of children living in relative poverty after housing costs rose from 4.1 million 2018/19 to 4.3 million in 2019/20 - this amounts to 31 per cent of all children in the UK.

In comparison, 3.6 million children were in poverty 11 years ago (2010/11).

The latest statistics show that just over half of all children in poverty were in families with a youngest child under the age of five and 47 per cent of children in families with three or more children.

The figures also show:

• Deprived families have fallen deeper into poverty with 2.9 million children considered to be in ‘deep poverty’- 600,000 more than in 2010/11.
• A total of 7 million children went hungry because their family could not afford enough food.
• Just under half (49 per cent) of lone parents are now in poverty.
• Three-quarters of children in poverty are in working families.

Given that the data only covers the period up until the end of March 2020, charities have warned the picture now is likely to be worse due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As such, they are calling on the Government to provide more financial support.

Comments

Imran Hussain, director of policy and campaigns at Action for Children, said, ‘The Government is in denial over child poverty which continues to rise and threatens to torpedo its flagship plans for levelling up.

‘Experts have warned that child poverty will rise even further after the pandemic, with working families facing a double threat this coming winter to their living standards as unemployment peaks and universal credit is cut.

‘After 12 long months struggling to cope with job losses, pay cuts and rising costs, families with children have been among the hardest hit by the pandemic and unless the Government chooses to protect them now, many face financial insecurity or poverty for years to come. It can start by making permanent the vital uplift in universal credit.’

Child Poverty Action Group chief executive Alison Garnham added, ‘This dismal data shows child poverty levels are now devastatingly high, and that’s before we see the impact of the pandemic. Children and their families will pay the price unless Government acts urgently. Ministers must develop a clear plan to prevent child poverty – and raising child benefit would be a good place to start.

‘Increasing it by £10 per week would lift 450,000 children from poverty. One year from now we should not have to look at data showing even more children have fallen into poverty because of Government inaction.’

The UK director of Save the Children, Dan Paskins, went on to say, ‘Behind the statistics, there are too many families who struggle financially, day in and day out, with far reaching consequences for their children. Parents we work with tell us they’re having to go without meals or electricity just to make sure their children have food to eat. One mum told us she is burning candles because she cannot afford to pay for electricity. This just isn’t right.

‘The £20 uplift to universal credit was a vital helping hand and is likely to have helped prevent a surge in poverty through this crisis – but it is set to be taken away in September, just as the furlough scheme ends and more people will lose their jobs. Save the Children is urging the Government to keep this uplift for another year, to prevent plunging families into deeper dire straits amidst financial uncertainty.’

Work and pensions secretary Therese Coffey said that the Government has increased its support to help low-income families through a 'difficult year', including 'ending the benefits freeze, helping with housing costs and increasing the national living wage'.

• The statistics are available here