At this time of year, we are all used to feeling the pinch with Christmas just around the corner, but for many households, it is a struggle just to get by week to week.
Child and pensioner Poverty is on the increase, with it looking to rise even further if action is not carried out.
The study carried out by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has reported that the UK is facing the first increase in child and pensioner poverty in twenty years.
The charity carries out British social policy research that funds research and development programmes throughout the UK.
400,000 more children in poverty
The results of the study are a stark comparison to those in 2012- 2013 and have shown up to four hundred thousand more children, and three hundred thousand more pensioners are now living in poverty.
A child is defined as living in poverty if they are living in a household with an income below sixty percent of the UK’s average.
The charity has cited reasons for the increase in figures which include, a weak wage growth and the rise of living and energy costs.
Reversed trends
The ‘UK Poverty 2017’ report has said this has reversed the trend of the 1990’s and could be to do with current political choices.
A solution has been suggested that benefits are unfrozen, and housing is made more affordable, especially to the low-income families.
Rachel Orr from Oxfam has said it is "deeply concerning".
We are used to seeing Oxfam and charity adverts detailing poverty in other countries, but we could begin to see it in this country as well.
The UK is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, however, with the period poverty crisis and now one in five children and many pensioners living in poverty are we now a country struggling to keep up with the cost of living?
The figure is apparently set to rise if things continue with 5.2 million children living in poverty in the next five years if we do not act now.
The Government have previously said they are addressing the issue, with doubling free childcare, however, this seems irrelevant with the cuts to many benefits and rising inflation.
Debbie Abrahams Labour MP has been vocal on Twitter regarding the matter and says, ‘work does not always pay’.
A 700,000 increase in the number of children and older people in poverty is totally unacceptable. Read my resp below https://t.co/yw5eJsUmvT
— Debbie Abrahams MP (@Debbie_abrahams) 4 December 2017
The Trussell Trust Charity has previously reported an increase in the use of food banks with many low-income families relying on them heavily.
Many have called the Conservative Government out via social media with some labelling it as shocking and shameful. Especially, after the Prime Minister Theresa May was describing her party's record on child poverty at the Prime Minister Questions two weeks ago.
Last week newspaper giants, The Independent hosted a Help a Hungry child campaign which saw celebrities such as Ellie Goulding and Stephen Fry endorse the campaign describing child poverty as ‘heartbreaking’.
