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JRF UK Poverty 2017 report shows sharp increase in child and pensioner poverty

4 Dec 2017 - 09:59 by helen.walker

UK Poverty 2017, a new report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, has found that almost 400,000 more children and 300,000 more pensioners are now living in poverty than in 2012/13. Since that year, there have been continued increases in poverty, across both age groups. Very little progress has been made in reducing poverty among working-age adults.

The report examines how UK poverty has changed over the last 20 years, providing the most comprehensive and up to date picture of the challenges and prospects facing low income families in modern Britain. It highlights that overall, 14 million people live in poverty in the UK – over one in five of the population. This is made up of eight million working-age adults, four million children and 1.9 million pensioners. 8 million live in families where at least one person is in work.

Over the last 20 years, the UK has dramatically reduced poverty among people who had traditionally been most at risk – pensioners and certain types of families with children. But that progress is beginning to unravel; poverty rates for both groups have started to rise again.

The analysis highlights that the three factors which have led to a fall in poverty and are now under question; state support for many of those on low incomes is falling in real terms, rents are increasing, and rising employment is no longer reducing poverty. As a result, JRF is calling for a national mission to transform the prospects of millions of people living in poverty in the UK.

A summary of the findings and a full copy of the report can be found on the JRF website - https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/uk-poverty-2017

 

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