Child poverty rates scheduled to increase

Since 2010, over 300,000 more children are now considered to be living in households that are in poverty, and the total number across the UK now stands at almost 3.5 million. This means that the total income of the household, including all benefits received by the family, is less than 60 percent of the UK average.

The trend is not reversing though, and new studies from the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission show the number may even increase by a few hundred thousands more unless something is done. Data is indicating that the government goal to reducing poverty rates by half over the next five years will not be met, and the problem is growing and not decreasing.

An annual report from Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission shows the government has a lot more to do to combat poverty. Problems such as stagnant wages and increasing cost of housing and food is leading to more households to struggle. The reduction in benefits that have occurred, and that will accelerate in the next 3 years due to Universal Credit, are also increasing the poverty rates.

While the economic growth rate has been around 2 to 3 percent over the last few years, wages have been stagnant. Many of the benefits of the stronger economy have been going to the well off, and this is leading to a divided society, and many children are being left behind. To make matters worse, the Bank of England is also warning that the economy will slow down in 2015 and later, which will cause even more hardship on the vulnerable.

The number of young people in poverty across some counties and districts is stunning as well. As some examples, 40 percent of children in Gwent are in poverty. Almost one half of Edmonton falls into the category, and one quart of children in Newport are in low income. There are over 100 wards in which the rates are greater than 50 pc. So the percentage changes greatly by borough and district.

Many of the families that are impacted have at least one member of the household that is working. People are often struggling as they do not make enough money to pay for all the bills they are faced with, and an increasing percentage of individuals are struggling with housing or rent payments. Those are some of the costs that are most difficult to pay. The central government is not doing enough to address the income problem, and the increase in minimum wage by 2019 will not be enough to cover these bills.

The government needs to do more to tackle this problem. Whether it comes to providing more affordable homes for families, or providing job training so people can maximise their income, the studies from Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission show much more needs to be done.