More than two-thirds of children living in poverty in the UK are in families where at least one parent is working, according to official figures. This is the highest proportion since records began 20 years ago, rising from 43% in 1996-97 to 67% currently. There are now four million children in poverty, the highest since the 2008 financial crash.
The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) said the figures showed families were 'stuck on low pay while living costs rise'. CPAG chief executive Alison Garnham described the outlook as 'bleaker' according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, adding that the government seemed 'in a state of denial' after last week's Budget failed to mention poverty.
The Children's Society called the figures 'truly shocking', while Anne Longfield, Children's Commissioner for England, said 'behind every statistic is a child living a life in poverty'. Oxfam's Justin Watson noted there are now more people in poverty in the UK than for almost 20 years, with a million more than at the start of the decade.
The Department for Work and Pensions responded that work still pays, and children are five times more likely to be in a low-income family if they live in a workless household. They highlighted that average household incomes have risen to a record £481 per week, and income inequality is lower than in 2009-10. They also pointed to Universal Credit, the National Living Wage, and increased tax-free allowances as measures to support working families.
The figures show significant regional variations: London has the highest child poverty rate when housing costs are included, but excluding accommodation, the West Midlands and Northern Ireland have the highest rates. Among couples with children in poverty, only 13% have no parent working, whereas among lone parents in poverty, only 12% are in work.
