UK Government Response to Households Below Average Income Figures

Author: DWP
Published: 2011/05/13
Topic: European Disability News - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Latest figures for the number and percentage of children pensioners and working age people in the UK living in relative and absolute poverty.

Introduction

Main Item

Today's figures show:

In 2009/10, 16 percent of working-age adults (5.7 million) living in relative poverty Before Housing Costs (BHC) and 22 percent (7.9 million) After Housing Costs (AHC). Compared to 2008/09, this was flat in percentage point terms (a fall of 0.1m) on a BHC basis and was flat in percentage point terms (a rise of 0.1m) AHC

The number of people in working-age poverty is amongst the highest since records began.

In 2009/10, 16 percent (1.8 million) AHC and 18 percent of pensioners (2.1 million) were living in relative poverty BHC. Compared to 2008/09, this represents no change AHC and a fall of 2 percentage points (0.2m) on a BHC basis.

In 2009/10, 20 percent of children (2.6 million) living in relative poverty BHC and 29 percent (3.8 million) AHC. Compared to 2008/09, this represents a fall of 2 percentage points (0.2m) on a BHC basis and a fall of 1 percentage point (0.1m) AHC.

Overall inequality remains at historically high levels.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith, said:

"These figures lay bare the growth of income inequality in the UK which is now the highest it has ever been. This gap between the poorest and richest in our society has accelerated over the last five years despite an astonishing £150 billion injected into tax credits alone. The end result has been to make benefit dependency and unemployment inherent to the UK way of life with middle and low income earners picking up the bill.

"This underlines the urgent need for our radical program for Welfare Reform and especially Universal Credit which will make work pay and end the madness of generations living on benefits with no reason to aspire for more. Any drop in poverty is to be welcomed, but it must be sustainable, and the only way we will achieve that is through work.

"Our plans will lift almost a million people including 350,000 children, out of poverty and help people back into work, improving the life chances of their children and ending the depressing spiral of a lifetime on benefits that blights too many of our towns and cities."

The latest Household Below Average Income figures 2009/10 can be found at: www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2010/may-2010/dwp067-10-200510.shtml