Poverty UK

14 million people in the UK, half a million more than in 2014/15, who now struggle to afford a good quality of life.

New figures published by the Department for Work and Pensions show the number of children and pensioners living in poverty is on the rise in most parts of the UK. Four million children in the country are also living in poverty, up from 3.9 million in 2014/15, and the number of pensioners experiencing hardship has jumped from 1.6 million in 2014/15 to 1.9 million in 2015/16, and it is understood more pensioners fall within the bottom half of the income distribution.

Child Poverty Action Group Alison Garnham said: “Child poverty is rising because ordinary families are stuck on low pay while living costs rise and family benefits are cut drastically."