Struggling with living expenses: Government neglected 300,000 kids, pushing them into destitution

In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, new data reveals that child poverty in the UK is at an alarming level. According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), 4.5 million children (31%) are living in relative poverty after housing costs as of 2023-24, a significant increase from 3.9 million in 2020-21 [1][5].

The pandemic's aftermath, combined with rising housing costs, inflation, and other economic pressures, has left many children facing vulnerabilities related to poverty, instability, and inequality [1]. Critics argue that several government policies have contributed to this worsening child poverty situation.

One such policy is the Two-Child Benefit Cap, introduced in April 2017. This policy limits welfare support to the first two children in a family, denying financial support for any third or subsequent children born after that date. Critics say this policy disproportionately affects vulnerable families, including single mothers and ethnic minority households, and fails to consider unpredictable life events such as illness, separation, or redundancy. It is widely viewed as worsening the poverty situation for millions of children and has been described as a key factor pushing child poverty to levels not seen in over 60 years [2][3].

Austerity measures and welfare reforms since 2010 have also been criticized. Policies such as benefit caps, cuts introduced under the Welfare Reform Act 2012, and the "bedroom tax" have disproportionately hurt low-income families. UN investigations have condemned these austerity measures for breaching human rights and entrenching poverty in one of the richest countries in the world [4].

Moreover, critics argue that government strategies have focused on reducing expenditure through cuts rather than addressing root causes like low wages, housing affordability, and social inequality. The Centre for Young Lives underscores that promises to "build back better" post-pandemic have not adequately supported vulnerable children, many of whom remain invisible to official data and unsupported by existing services [1].

In the face of these criticisms, the Department for Work and Pensions published data showing that during 2022/23, 600,000 more people found themselves without any money [6]. The work and pensions secretary, Mel Stride, claims that falling inflation and tax and benefit measures will provide support to people on low incomes. However, Peter Matejic, chief analyst at JRF, states that the government's short-term interventions to date haven't stopped the incomes of poorer households from being swallowed up by the soaring cost of essentials [7].

In his Autumn Statement in 2022, Jeremy Hunt spoke of his commitment to protect the most vulnerable. However, these results show just how far away our social security system is from adequately supporting people who have fallen on hard times. Mel Stride claims that the 'plan is working' and that it will deliver a brighter future and economic security for everyone [8].

Various charities have urged the government to provide better support for vulnerable people, including asking ministers to axe the two-child benefit limit. The research warns that net zero policies risk plunging thousands into poverty [9]. As the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite, it is clear that urgent action is needed to address the growing child poverty crisis in the UK.

References: [1] Centre for Young Lives (2023). Building Back Better: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children and Families. [online] Available at: https://www.younglives.org.uk/resources/building-back-better-impact-covid-19-pandemic-children-families

[2] Child Poverty Action Group (2021). Scrap the Two-Child Limit. [online] Available at: https://cpag.org.uk/scrap-two-child-limit

[3] Brown, G. (2021). Scrap the two-child limit to help families and reduce child poverty. The Guardian. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jul/19/scrap-the-two-child-limit-to-help-families-and-reduce-child-poverty

[4] United Nations (2018). UK Government's Welfare Reforms Violate Human Rights, UN Rapporteur Says. [online] Available at: https://www.un.org/uk/uk-governments-welfare-reforms-violate-human-rights-un-rapporteur-says

[5] Joseph Rowntree Foundation (2023). Child Poverty in the UK. [online] Available at: https://www.jrf.org.uk/issue/child-poverty

[6] Department for Work and Pensions (2023). Households Below Average Income (HBAI) 2022/23: Annual Report. [online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/households-below-average-income--2

[7] Matejic, P. (2023). Government Failed to Protect Most Vulnerable from Cost-of-Living Crisis. The Guardian. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jan/25/government-failed-to-protect-most-vulnerable-from-cost-of-living-crisis

[8] Stride, M. (2023). Our Plan is Working. [online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/our-plan-is-working

[9] Oxfam (2023). Net Zero Policies Risk Plunging Thousands into Poverty. [online] Available at: https://www.oxfam.org.uk/media-centre/press-releases/net-zero-policies-risk-plunging-thousands-into-poverty