Almost half the UK’s 14million people in poverty live in a family with a disabled person, a damning study has found.
The grim life chances for disabled people across the UK are exposed in today’s report by the Social Metrics Commission.
The report sparked fresh calls for the Tories to end the cruel benefit freeze. And it comes after the Mirror’s reporting on how thousands of disabled people are being wrongly denied the benefit Personal Independence Payment – only to win on appeal.
The report found 4.5million people are more than 50% beneath the poverty line – a proportion that has not changed since 2000/01
Overall there are 14.3million people in poverty in Britain, including 8.3 million working-age adults, 4.6 million children and 1.3 million pension-age adults.
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Seven million people, including 2.3 million children, have been in poverty for at least two of the previous three years.
And nearly half (48%) of people in poverty – totalling 6.8 million – live in a family where someone is disabled.
The SMC said its findings highlight the scale of the challenge facing new Prime Minister Boris Johnson – who is pouring £1billion into No Deal Brexit plans and has pledged tax cuts for £80,000 earners.
SMC chairwoman Philippa Stroud said: “It is concerning that overall poverty has remained at almost the same level since the early 2000s, under governments of all colours.
“But it is also clear that beneath the surface there are significant differences in the experience of poverty among different groups of people.
“Decisions made by policymakers can have a significant impact on who is in poverty and how deep and persistent that poverty is.
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“These new findings highlight the urgent need for a more united and concerted approach.”
The SMC’s 2019 report is an update on its 2018 publication proposing a new measure of poverty and analysing how it has changed since 2000/01.
The poverty line in the UK is defined as those earning 60% of the median income.
Child Poverty Action Group chief executive Alison Garnham slammed the Tories for cutting £40bn a year from benefits.
She said: “No matter how you measure it, child poverty is rising and it should be an urgent priority for the new Prime Minister.
“Without action, it will continue to rise. This is one area where what governments do – and don’t do – makes a difference.
“Great progress on child poverty had been made but by cutting £40bn a year from our work-and-pensions budget through cuts and freezes to tax credits and benefits, the government has put progress into reverse.”
Dr Sam Royston, Director of Policy and Research at The Children’s Society said: “Seeing a single child’s life blighted by poverty in modern Britain should be a scandal.
“For 4.6 million children to be facing poverty according to this proposed new measure – and nearly three quarters of them to be in working families – is a national shame requiring urgent action.
“The new Prime Minister must commit to end the ongoing benefit freeze so that families can afford to pay bills and purchase everyday essentials.”
A Government spokesman said: “We welcome the work of the Social Metrics Commission which shows that poverty has reduced since 2010, and we’re pleased to be working with them on a new measure of poverty which will help us target support more effectively.
“Tackling poverty will always be a priority for this Government. We want to build on our progress to ensure every family can thrive. That’s why we’ve raised the personal allowance to take 1.74 million of the lowest paid out of income tax altogether and increased the National Living Wage to provide the biggest pay rise for low paid workers in 20 years, while we continue to spend £95 billion a year on working-age welfare.
“Work offers the best route out of poverty and we’ve got record numbers in employment. Universal Credit allows those most in need to receive personalised support into employment.”
