Child poverty in working households up by 800,000 since 2010, says TUC

• Number of children living below the breadline – despite being in a working family – has increased by 38% since decade began 

• London, East of England and West Midlands have suffered biggest increases 

• Government policies have driven majority of rise, says TUC  

The number of children growing up in poverty in working households has risen by 800,000 since 2010, according to new TUC analysis published today (Monday). 

The analysis reveals that child poverty in working families rose to 2.9 million in 2018 – an increase of 38% since the start of the decade. 

In 2010, 1 in 5 (19%) children in working households were growing up in poverty. In 2018 this had increased to 1 in 4 (24%). 

Government policies account for majority of rise in child poverty

The analysis shows that government policies account for the majority of the increase in-work poverty. 

More than 485,000 children (in working households) have been pushed below the breadline as a direct result of the government’s in-work benefit cuts. 

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

• Weak wage growth 

• The spread of insecure work 

• Population growth 

• The rise in the number of working households hasn’t been enough to lift families out of poverty  

London has been the worst hit region 

London has suffered the biggest increase in child poverty (+68%) among working families followed by the West Midlands (+56%) and East England (+56%). 

Abolition of child poverty targets 

In 2016 the Conservatives abolished the Child Poverty Act and scrapped targets to reduce poverty. 

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: 

“No child in Britain should be growing up in poverty. 

“But millions of parents are struggling to feed and clothe their kids. That is not right. 

“The Conservatives’ cuts to in-work benefits have come at a terrible human cost. As too has their failure to tackle insecure work and get wages rising across the economy. 

“We need a government that puts working families first, not wealthy donors and hedge funds.”