Child poverty in working households up by 42% in the North West since 2010, says TUC

The number of North West children growing up in poverty in working households has shot up by 42% since 2010, according to new TUC research.

The analysis – carried out for the TUC by Landman Economics – estimates that 341,300 North West children with working parents will be below the official breadline in 2018.

This is an increase of 101,700 since the start of the decade.

Public sector pay restrictions and in-work benefit cuts

The analysis shows that 76,000 children (with working parents) in the region have been pushed into poverty as a result of the government’s in-work benefit cuts and public sector pay restrictions.

The TUC says that other key factors behind the 101,700 rise in child poverty are:

• Weak wage growth
• The spread of insecure work
• Population growth
• The increase in working families

The research shows the impact of public sector pay restrictions and in-work benefit cuts on household incomes.

The analysis reveals that:

• Families where both parents work in the public sector are the biggest losers from the government’s pay restrictions and benefit changes. Their average household income has fallen by £83 a week in real terms.
• Households where one parent works in the public sector and another works in the private sector have lost, on average, £53 a week.
• Households with private sector workers only have seen their incomes fall by £31 a week on average.

TUC Regional Secretary for the North West Lynn Collins said: “Child poverty in working households has shot up since 2010.

“Years of falling incomes and benefit cuts have had a terrible human cost in the region. Thousands of parents are struggling to feed and clothe their kids.

“The government is in denial about how many working families just can’t make ends meet. That's why people from across the North West will travelling to London this Saturday to demand a new deal for working people.

“We need ministers to boost the minimum wage now, and use the social security system to make sure no child grows up in a family struggling to get by.”