Today (13 June), the Department for Work and Pensions published the latest UK income and poverty figures, covering 2011-12 (the first full year of the Coalition government). They make depressing reading.
Others have produced detailed analysis of the figures – but here are some key points in relation to Church Action on Poverty’s current campaigns and other work:
- The number of people in ‘relative poverty’ fell slightly – but only because average incomes have fallen. Everybody is feeling the pinch, apart from the wealthiest.
- A million more people have fallen into deep, ‘absolute’ poverty.
- Working poverty has risen. The entire increase in children counted as in poverty in 2011-12 came from working households. Children living below the poverty line are now twice as likely to come from working families than those without employment.
- Things are only going to get worse. These figures cover a period before the government’s austerity programme began to take full effect. We can be certain that many more people have been pushed below the poverty line by cuts which were made in 2012-13.
Follow the links below for more information:
- New Policy Institute – Detailed analysis with interactive graphs
- Oxfam – response with suggested policies and actions
- The Guardian – includes responses from the DWP and various charities
