A guide to poverty in the UK, focusing on 5 key areas: Who is in poverty What is poverty Levels of poverty Causes of poverty Consequences of poverty on society

1. THE CHANGING PICTURE OF
POVERTY IN THE UK
WHY WE NEED TO ACT NOW

2. Poverty levels in the UK are shameful
13.5 million
7.9 million working-age adults 3.9 million children 1.6 million
pensioners
of people in poverty live
in a family where at least
one person is disabled
39%
of children in poverty live
in a lone-parent family
35%
66%
of working-age
households in poverty
have someone
doing paid work
of all people in
poverty live in
rented properties
67%
TO LET
Key Stats
Total number
Source: DWP HBAI statistics: data to 2014/15

3. PAYSLIPPAYSLIP
Many people are struggling to make ends meet

4. There are different levels of poverty in the UK
Destitute: Unable
to afford essentials
like food and clothing
In poverty but not destitute:
Struggling to heat home, pay rent
or buy essentials for children
Inadequate income but not in
poverty: Under pressure.
Unexpected costs and events can
push people into poverty
Adequate income or better: Able
to afford a decent standard of living
MIS
(minimum income standard)
75% MIS
Destitution

5. 10 of the UK’s top 12 struggling cities
are based in the North of England
1. Rochdale
2. Burnley
3. Bolton
4. Blackburn
5. Hull
6. Grimsby
7. Dundee
8. Middlesbrough
9. Bradford
10. Blackpool
11. Stoke
12. Wigan
8
7
9
5
6
10 4 2
12 3 1
11
Some areas are worse off than others
Source: JRF report: Uneven growth: tackling city decline

6. Family problems
High costs,
including housing
Ineffective
benefit system
Lack of skills
Low wages, insecure jobs
and unemployment
Poverty is not caused by one thing

7. Poverty harms all of us
CONSEQUENCES of POVERTY
Health problems
Victim or
pepetrator
of crime
Homelessness or
housing problems
Teenage
pregnancy
Drug or alcohol
problems
More poverty
Lower educational
achievement
Relationship and
family problems
Biological effects

8. JRF’s vision for a poverty free UK where by 2030

9. 5 point plan to #solveukpoverty

10. Almost anyone can experience poverty in the UK.
It doesn’t have to be like this.
JRF has launched the first ever comprehensive
strategy to solve poverty in the UK.
Follow our progress at
www.jrf.org.uk/solve-uk-poverty
#solveukpoverty