Child poverty becoming ‘new normal’ in parts of country“Poverty is the new normal” for children in some of the most deprived areas of the country, according to new study out today. The study, commissioned by a coalition of charites, suggests that in some areas, more than half of children are growing up in poverty.
Worsening child poverty stopping learning, say teachersA new survey says that some children are coming to school without having eaten for two days – while others can’t afford basic equipment like pens and rulers. Meanwhile, teachers say a lack of government funding means measures to tackle poverty, like free breakfast clubs, are being scrapped.
Universal Credit to be ‘reset’Potential problems with the system were further exposed today when four single mothers won a high court battle over the way the monthly payments were made, after arguing they were ending up out of pocket.
UN expert says austerity has condemned millions to poverty“Punitive, mean-spirited, and callous” – that’s how the United Nations special rapporteur on poverty has described the Government’s austerity policies, and he describes the rise in child poverty as a “social calamity and economic disaster”.
12m
UN probes UK poverty amid benefits shake-upBeing poor and on benefits in the UK can mean surviving on very little money – now the United Nations rapporteur on poverty has come to the country to investigate just how severe a problem it is.
Government under pressure to stop universal credit roll-out Pressure is building on the government to stop the roll-out of universal credit. A leaked document suggests more radical changes to the benefit might be needed to mitigate its impact on vulnerable claimants.
13m
What’s it like living on universal credit?The clamour from all sides to intervene in the national rollout of Universal Credit is rising. Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, faces calls to open the country’s chequebook ahead of his budget at the end of the month. Yesterday, Esther McVey, the Work and Pensions Secretary, said she accepts many people would be significantly worse off. Today the Times reported…
The working poor: Britain’s families living on the breadlineWork is the best route out of poverty – it’s a slogan popular with politicians both left and right for the past two decades. But as the country surges towards record numbers of people in work – the number of those in work and in poverty too is also rising. According to the Institute for…