Too Many UK Households Still Living Below the Poverty Level Despite Record Levels of Employment.

Millions of households across the UK are living below the Minimum Income Standard (MIS), despite record levels of employment.

Figures provided by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in a report, Households Below a Minimum Income Standard; 2008/09-2017/18, written by Matt Padley and Juliet Stone show some 18.7 million households living below MIS.

Lone parents, pensioners and adults aged between 16 and 34 are most likely to be affected. Also affected are households living in social housing or private rental accommodation.

Employment figures published by the Office for National Statistics this week show that 76% of the UK population is in work (32.54 million people) is in work, the highest number since 1971.

Despite these record levels of employment 17.8% of households living below the MIS are in full time work, up from 11.8% in 2008/09. Workless households in the same position have risen from 48.6% to 60.3% over the same period.

The Minimum Income Standard represents the minimum socially acceptable standard of living.

The number of individuals in the UK living below the MIS has increased every year since 2008/09.

Figures released by the Trussell Trust, the charity running many UK food banks illustrate the impact of poverty on the health and life chances of individuals and families.

The mid-year statistics published by the Trussell Trust and based on a survey of 1100 people who used their food banks between April and September 2019 along with evidence from volunteers and referring agencies paint a stark picture.

94% of clients said they were facing real deprivation, meaning they could not afford to buy essentials. From these three quarters were in rent arrears, two thirds had been subject to benefit delays or sanctions and half were living in single person households. Most, 75%, reported experiencing at least one physical or mental health problem.

Food bank usage is not limited to individuals and households who are receiving out of work benefits. Being in full time work is no guarantee of financial security thanks to short term contracts and the growth of the gig-economy.

Creating an economy that gives a fair chance to all its actors and a social security system that protects the most vulnerable people is the major challenge facing the government. One that if it fails to meet will create economic and social instability that could last for decades.