Children in relative low income, United Kingdom
The proportion of children living in households where income is less than 60% of median household income
Table 2.1
| All dependent children under the age of 20 | 2017/18 | 2016/17 | 2007/08 | 2010/11 | 1 year change | 10 year change |
| No of UK Children in Relative Poverty in BHC(m) | 3.0m | 2.7m | 2.9m | 2.3m | +0.3m | +0.1m |
| UK Children in Relative Poverty in the UK BHC % | 22.0% | 19.0% | 23.0% | 18.0% | ||
| No of UK Children in Relative Poverty AHC(m) | 4.1m | 4.1m | 4.1m | 3.6m | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| UK Children in Relative Poverty in the UK AHC % | 30.0% | 30.0% | 31.0% | 27.0% | ||
| Source: DWP, Households below average income (HBAI), March 2019 | ||||||
Latest figures show 3 million children experienced relative poverty before housing costs were deducted (BHC) during 2017/18 (22% of children in the UK), up by 300,000 children on the previous year, and 100,000 more children in poverty compared to 10 years ago.
Looking at relative poverty figures after housing costs (AHC) are deducted from income, there were 4.1 million children in relative poverty 2017/18 (30% of children in the UK). This is has shown no improvement on the figures from 2016/17 or 10 years ago.
Children in absolute low income, United Kingdom
The proportion of children living in households where income is less than 60 per cent of median household income in 2010/11 uprated by CPI inflation.
Table 2.2
| All dependent children under the age of 20 | 2017/18 | 2016/17 | 2007/08 | 2010/11 | 1 year change | 10 year change |
| No of UK Children in Absolute Poverty in BHC(m) | 2.5m | 2.2m | 2.9m | 2.3m | +0.3m | -0.4m |
| UK Children in Absolute Poverty in the UK BHC % | 18.0% | 16.0% | 22.0% | 18.0% | ||
| No of UK Children in Absolute Poverty AHC(m) | 3.7m | 3.5m | 4.0m | 3.6m | +0.2m | -0.3m |
| UK Children in Absolute Poverty in the UK AHC % | 26.0% | 26.0% | 31.0% | 27.0% | ||
| Source: DWP, Households below average income (HBAI), March 2019 | ||||||
Latest figures show 2.5 million children experienced absolute poverty during 2017/18 before housing costs (BHC) were deducted from income (18% of children in the UK). This figure has risen by 300,000 children in the last year. Looking at longer term trends, there has been a fall of 400,000 children being in poverty compared to 10 years ago.
Looking at absolute poverty figures after housing costs (AHC) are deducted from income, there were 3.7 million children in absolute poverty AHC during 2017/18 (26% of children in the UK), rising by 200,000 children since 2016/17. In the last 10 years, the figure has fallen by 300,000 children.
Children in working and workless households in relative poverty
Table 2.3:
| Economic status of household | UK Total number of children | Children in poverty BHC | Children in poverty AHC | ||
| No | % | No | % | ||
| At least one adult in work | 12.1m | 2.1m | 17% | 2.9m | 24% |
| Workless households | 1.7m | 952,000 | 56% | 1.2m | 71% |
| Total number of children | 13.8m | 3.0m | n/a | 4.1m | n/a |
| Source: DWP, Households below average income (HBAI), March 2019 | |||||
A higher percentage of children in workless families are in poverty, compared to children in families where at least one adult is in work. In 2017/18, 71% of all children in workless families were in relative poverty AHC (affecting an estimated 1.2m children). In contrast, 24% of all children with at least one adult in work were in relative poverty (affecting an estimated 2.9m children). When looking solely at the proportion of children in poverty, it can be seen that 2.1m out of 3m children in poverty are from a working family, this equates to 68% of children in poverty being from a working family before housing costs are deducted). After housing costs are deducted, 71% (2.9m out of 4.1m) of children in poverty are from working families.
Child Poverty in Leeds – Children in Low-Income Families Local Measure
HMRC’s Children in Low-Income Families Local Measure is the key local indicator for Child Poverty in Leeds. The measure shows the proportion of children living in families in receipt of out-of-work (means-tested) benefits or in receipt of tax credits where their reported income is less than 60 per cent of UK median income. This measure provides a broad proxy for relative low-income child poverty as set out in the Child Poverty Act 2010 and enables analysis at a local level; however there is a three year time-lag. The proportion of children in poverty is calculated using population estimates from HMRC’s Child benefits data.
Table 2.4
| All dependent children 0-19 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | Annual Change
2015-16 |
| Total No of Leeds children under 20 | 167,110 | 164,910 | 163,815 | +2,200 |
| No of children in Low income families Leeds | 33,485 | 31,735 | 37,195 | +1,750 |
| Leeds Rate | 20.0% | 19.2% | 22.7% | +0.8 |
| No of children in Low income families England | 1,974,035 | 1,929,290 | 2,315,765 | +44,745 |
| England Rate | 17.0% | 16.6% | 19.9% | +0.4 |
| Children 0-15 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | Annual Change
2015-16 |
| Total No of Leeds children under 16 | 146,155 | 143,290 | 141,725 | +2,865 |
| No of children in Low income families Leeds | 29,660 | 28,150 | 32,805 | +1,510 |
| Leeds Rate | 20.3% | 19.6% | 23.1% | +0.7 |
| No of children in Low income families England | 1,707,835 | 1,678,035 | 2,003,060 | +29,800 |
| England Rate | 17.0% | 16.8% | 20.1% | +0.2 |
| Source HMRC Children in Low-Income Families Dec 2018 | ||||
In Leeds, 20% of all dependent children under the age of 20 (33,485 children) lived in poverty in 2016, compared to 17% (1.97m children) in England.
With regards children under the age of 16 in Leeds, 20.3% (29,660 children) were in poverty in 2016, compared to 17% (1.7m children) in England.
Children in out-of-work benefit households
DWP estimates the proportion of children living in families in receipt of out-of-work benefits. The out-of-work benefits are Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance, Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowance, Pension Credit, Employment Support Allowance and Universal Credit. The proportion is calculated using the out-of-work benefits data and ONS mid-year population estimates.
Table 2.5
| Children 0-18 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | Annual change
2016-17 |
| ONS mid-year estimates, Leeds under 19s | 175,676 | 174,180 | 172,358 | 1,496 |
| Leeds | 27,620 | 28,440 | 29,310 | -820 |
| Leeds % | 15.7% | 16.3% | 17.0% | -0.6% |
| England | 1,612,950 | 1,932,950 | 1,728,940 | -320,000 |
| England % | 12.9% | 15.5% | 14.0% | -2.7% |
| Children 0-15 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | Annual Change
2016-17 |
| ONS mid-year estimates, Leeds under 16s | 150,447 | 148,436 | 145,903 | +2,011 |
| Leeds | 25,060 | 25,710 | 26,400 | -650 |
| Leeds % | 16.7% | 17.3% | 18.1% | -0.7% |
| England | 1,438,950 | 1,719,410 | 1,533,680 | -280,460 |
| England % | 13.5% | 16.3% | 14.7% | -2.8% |
| Source DWP Children in out-of-work benefit households, Dec 2018 | ||||
In Leeds, 15.7% of children under the age of 19 (27,620 children) were estimated to live in poverty according to this measure, compared to 16.7% (1.4million children) in England.
16.7% of Leeds children under the age of 16 (25,060 children) were estimated to live in poverty according to this measure, compared to 13.5% (1.4million children) in England.
Local indicators of child poverty
Table 2.6
| Children in poverty BHC | Children in poverty AHC | |||
| 2017/18 | Number of children 0-19 | Proportion | Number of children 0-19 | Proportion |
| UK | 3m | 22% | 4.1m | 30% |
| Leeds | 47,306 | 24.8% | 56,104 | 29% |
| Source: Centre for Research in Social Policy, End Child Poverty Local estimates, May 2019 | ||||
Free School Meals
The data in this table is a total of all school types – i.e. for state funded primary, secondary, special schools, Pupil Referral Units and Alternative Provision Academies and Free Schools. The data excludes all infant children who receive universal free school meals regardless of income.
Table 2.7
| England | Leeds | England Change | Leeds Change | |||
| 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | 2017-18 | 2017-18 | |
| Total Number of pupils | 8,152,323 | 8,084,528 | 122,742 | 120,472 | +67,795 | +2,270 |
| Number of Eligible Pupils | 1,106,495 | 1,128,183 | 19,176 | 19,581 | -21,688 | -405 |
| Proportion of eligible pupils | 13.6% | 14.0% | 15.6% | 16.3% | -0.4% | -0.6% |
| Non take up numbers | 233,548 | 229,348 | 3,781 | 4,013 | +4,200 | -232 |
| Non take up proportion | 21.1% | 20.3% | 19.7% | 20.5% | +0.8% | -0.8% |
| Take up numbers | 872,947 | 898,835 | 15,395 | 15,568 | -25,888 | -173 |
| Take up proportion | 78.9% | 79.7% | 80.3% | 79.5% | -0.8 | +0.8 |
| Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Jul 2018 | ||||||
In January 2018, 15.6% of pupils in Leeds were eligible for free schools meals. Nationally 13.6% were eligible and this is reported as being the lowest proportion since 2001, when the department began collecting pupil level information. Entitlement to free school meals is determined by the receipt of income-related benefits. As the number of benefit claimants decreases, the proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals also falls. Of the 19,176 pupils in Leeds eligible to claim a free school meal, only 15,395 had when surveyed in 2018.