Are you in poverty?
Discussion
Any surprises here? it now suggests that 20% of the population are "living in poverty"
Household Type Annual Income (After Housing Costs) Weekly Income (After Housing Costs)
Single Adult £10,140 £195
Couple (No Children) £19,500 £375
Lone Parent + 1 Child £13,676 £263
Couple + 2 Children £28,444 £547
Included Housing Costs
Rent: The gross amount of rent paid (including any covered by Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit).
Mortgage Interest: Only the interest portion of a mortgage payment is counted as a cost.
Water Rates: This includes water rates, community water charges, and council water charges.
Building Insurance: Structural insurance premiums paid by owner-occupiers.
Ground Rent & Service Charges: Ongoing mandatory fees for leasehold properties or flats.
What is NOT Included?
Certain household bills are considered "general consumption" and are excluded from the official definition of housing costs:
Mortgage Principal: Repaying the actual loan amount is viewed as an investment (building an asset) rather than a cost.
Energy Bills: Gas and electricity are excluded.
Council Tax: In most official measures, council tax is deducted from gross income to reach "disposable income" before housing costs are even considered.
Maintenance & Repairs: Costs for DIY, general upkeep, or contents insurance.
BBC news article said:
The number of people living in relative poverty in the UK rose by half a million in the year up to March 2025, new government figures have shown. There are now 13.4 million living in relative poverty, including four million children. The number of pensioners living in relative poverty increased from 1.49 million to 1.69 million. A person is considered to be in relative poverty if they are living in households with income below 60% of the median average income of the population. Announcing the figures, Work and Pensions Minister Diana Johnson said the levels of poverty were "wholly unacceptable" and the government was taking "robust action to change the course".
So to be classed as living in poverty household income has to be 60% or more below the median average income. Based on the latest data for the financial year ending 2025 (FYE 2025), the median household disposable income is estimated at £37,500 before housing costs and £32,500 after housing costs. Because households vary in size, the "marker" of poverty changes to reflect how much money different groups need to achieve the same standard of living.Household Type Annual Income (After Housing Costs) Weekly Income (After Housing Costs)
Single Adult £10,140 £195
Couple (No Children) £19,500 £375
Lone Parent + 1 Child £13,676 £263
Couple + 2 Children £28,444 £547
Included Housing Costs
Rent: The gross amount of rent paid (including any covered by Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit).
Mortgage Interest: Only the interest portion of a mortgage payment is counted as a cost.
Water Rates: This includes water rates, community water charges, and council water charges.
Building Insurance: Structural insurance premiums paid by owner-occupiers.
Ground Rent & Service Charges: Ongoing mandatory fees for leasehold properties or flats.
What is NOT Included?
Certain household bills are considered "general consumption" and are excluded from the official definition of housing costs:
Mortgage Principal: Repaying the actual loan amount is viewed as an investment (building an asset) rather than a cost.
Energy Bills: Gas and electricity are excluded.
Council Tax: In most official measures, council tax is deducted from gross income to reach "disposable income" before housing costs are even considered.
Maintenance & Repairs: Costs for DIY, general upkeep, or contents insurance.
craigjm said:
So to be classed as living in poverty household income has to be 60% or more below the median average income. Based on the latest data for the financial year ending 2025 (FYE 2025), the median household disposable income is estimated at £37,500 before housing costs and £32,500 after housing costs. Because households vary in size, the "marker" of poverty changes to reflect how much money different groups need to achieve the same standard of living.
No, the article quite clearly references ’relative poverty’, not ‘poverty’, which is an entirely different thing.Sport_Turismo_GTS said:
No, the article quite clearly references relative poverty , not poverty , which is an entirely different thing.
^^^ that.It's always "relative poverty" when they are banging the drums because that is always with us no matter how well we are doing. Actual grinding, dirt eating, poverty is history in the West. And getting uncommon worldwide, maybe 10%.
Sport_Turismo_GTS said:
craigjm said:
So to be classed as living in poverty household income has to be 60% or more below the median average income. Based on the latest data for the financial year ending 2025 (FYE 2025), the median household disposable income is estimated at £37,500 before housing costs and £32,500 after housing costs. Because households vary in size, the "marker" of poverty changes to reflect how much money different groups need to achieve the same standard of living.
No, the article quite clearly references relative poverty , not poverty , which is an entirely different thing.I've spent a lot of my working life in countries where poverty exists and I can absolutely say that poverty does not exist in the UK. Not by a million miles.
The term relative poverty is accurate but IMO, requires a different term because the use of the word poverty in a UK or even a Western context greatly diminishes our understanding of the reality for those in genuine poverty.
For those interested, poverty is where people do not have access to basic healthcare, education and sanitation, where employment is sporadic and largely informal and there exist little if any access to the democratic process. Mostly, though, it's defined by the lack of opportunity, ability and support to do something about it.
In the UK, there exists no institutionally-driven reason why anyone is denied healthcare, education, sanitation, a roof over their heads, a meal to eat and the support and opportunity to improve their situations.
There exists an uncomfortably wide chasm between the poorest and wealthiest of society and the application of the support provided to the former may be found wanting in some areas - but poverty it aint!
StevieBee said:
A very important point!
I've spent a lot of my working life in countries where poverty exists and I can absolutely say that poverty does not exist in the UK. Not by a million miles.
Agreed, having spent time living in Africa and India we dont have poverty like that. Yes should have used the word relative in the titleI've spent a lot of my working life in countries where poverty exists and I can absolutely say that poverty does not exist in the UK. Not by a million miles.
StevieBee said:
A very important point!
I've spent a lot of my working life in countries where poverty exists and I can absolutely say that poverty does not exist in the UK. Not by a million miles.
Poverty was my Mum, born in the 1930's, taking it turns with her sister to go to school as they only had one pair of shoes between them. I've spent a lot of my working life in countries where poverty exists and I can absolutely say that poverty does not exist in the UK. Not by a million miles.
Although currently my partner and I would be classed as being in poverty based on our income. We are "retired", but only I am old enough for state pension. Thankfully we have plenty of savings.
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Poverty was me at 16 when I left home. I got by on boiled potatoes and noodles. I was always very hungry.
No one gave me thousands in PIP and benefits.
What led to this Dickensian existence and what changed it?No one gave me thousands in PIP and benefits.
Hugo Stiglitz said:
I didn't go find and knock someone up. I wanted to do better.
But no woman would let you?My guess would be that we’ve imported a significant chunk of the increase.
It also probably pretty easy for pensioners to slip below the threshold if they’ve got a fixed annuity that’s getting destroyed by inflation or if they’ve just planned to live a basic lifestyle on a minimal amount because their house is paid off. A lot will be living perfectly happily on <60% of the median.
It also probably pretty easy for pensioners to slip below the threshold if they’ve got a fixed annuity that’s getting destroyed by inflation or if they’ve just planned to live a basic lifestyle on a minimal amount because their house is paid off. A lot will be living perfectly happily on <60% of the median.
It is interesting to compare the UK to the US. Using the same UK formula (US use a different metric developed in the 1960s which is a little outdated now) the US has 50% more people in relative poverty compared to the UK (as a percentage).
Obviously, with the larger population, the finite figures are much bigger in the US.
Doesn't really surprise me.....
Obviously, with the larger population, the finite figures are much bigger in the US.
Doesn't really surprise me.....
Cats_pyjamas said:
Having been to Kenya where many people do live in poverty (but seem very happy also), very very few people in the UK live in absolute poverty. Relative poverty is a crock of s
te imo.
I would tend to agree with this, ive been to many 3rd world countries, and seen real poverty. We have none of that in the UK.te imo.Also in alot of 3rd world countries there is a vast gap between those that have and those that dont.
The uk tho is an expensive place to live well in.
Ive always been thankfull that i was born in a wealthy country.
Poverty in the UK. There is no such thing, we live in a land of plenty. Central Heating,fitted carpets, wide screen TV's, mobile phones, double glassing.
Poverty my arse.
In my lifetime I remember chopping wood for a coal fire in the morning, black and white 18 inch TV with two channles, a tin bath in the kitchen,double glassing and central heating was for the rich. Sick pay no such thing! that's the 1970's
"Luxury, we used to live in a shoebox in the road". The kids on here won't understand that joke.
I forgot Stork, sterilised milk and Izal bog paper. You would know what poverty is then alright.
Poverty my arse.
In my lifetime I remember chopping wood for a coal fire in the morning, black and white 18 inch TV with two channles, a tin bath in the kitchen,double glassing and central heating was for the rich. Sick pay no such thing! that's the 1970's
"Luxury, we used to live in a shoebox in the road". The kids on here won't understand that joke.
I forgot Stork, sterilised milk and Izal bog paper. You would know what poverty is then alright.
Edited by kestral on Thursday 26th March 23:13
kestral said:
Poverty in the UK. There is no such thing, we live in a land of plenty. Central Heating,fitted carpets, wide screen TV's, mobile phones, double glassing.
Poverty my arse.
In my lifetime I remember chopping wood for a coal fire in the morning, black and white 18 inch TV with two channles, a tin bath in the kitchen,double glassing and central heating was for the rich. Sick pay no such thing! that's the 1970's
"Luxury, we used to live in a shoebox in the road". The kids on here won't understand that joke.
I forgot Stork, sterilised milk and Izal bog paper. You would know what poverty is then alright.
you had a tv, you rich bPoverty my arse.
In my lifetime I remember chopping wood for a coal fire in the morning, black and white 18 inch TV with two channles, a tin bath in the kitchen,double glassing and central heating was for the rich. Sick pay no such thing! that's the 1970's
"Luxury, we used to live in a shoebox in the road". The kids on here won't understand that joke.
I forgot Stork, sterilised milk and Izal bog paper. You would know what poverty is then alright.
Edited by kestral on Thursday 26th March 23:13
dwe had to watch spiders making webs over the holes where the windows should have been
Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff