06 May 2008 – Publication of DWP research report 467: 'The Circumstances of Persistently Poor Families with Children: Evidence from the Families and Children Study'
The main aim of this report was to examine the financial resources of persistently poor families with children, as well as their living standards and characteristics. This would also allow comparison with those who experience poverty temporarily or not at all. It used data from the Department’s Families and Children Study 2001-2004.
Key findings
- 12 per cent of families were in persistent poverty, 26% were in temporary poverty and 62% were in the no-poverty group
- The analysis clearly confirms working 16 hours plus per week is the key factor that protects against persistent poverty: 50 per cent of lone parents and 44 per cent of couples who experienced persistent worklessness also experienced persistent poverty;
- Lone parents (27%) are four times more likely to experience persistent poverty than couple families (6%).
- Other characteristics associated with persistent poverty are families with 3 or more children, having a child aged 0-4, being a young mother and from a black or ethnic minority group. Increased risk of persistent poverty is also seen where neither parent has qualifications, is living in social housing and the male is sick or disabled.
- Those in persistent poverty are more likely to have debt and to experience worries about money.
- Children in persistent poverty had worse outcomes than those in temporary poverty. They were more likely to have been suspended or expelled from school (11 per cent and 6 per cent); in trouble with the police (5 per cent and 3 per cent); live in bad housing (48 per cent and 33 per cent); and to lack items that are used to measure material deprivation. For some outcomes there were no differences between persistent poverty and temporary poverty children, for example being bullied, offered drugs and parents’ evaluation of performance at English and Maths.
Notes to Editors
- This report is published on 6th May and will be in the DWP Research Series
Report (no. 467);
see: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rrs-index.asp - The authors were from the National Centre for Social Research
- As in the Department’s Households Below Average Income series, persistent poverty this was defined as being in income poverty (below 60% median income after housing costs) in at least 3 out of 4 years. Temporary poverty was defined as one or two years in income poverty.
- The Families and Children Study is a refreshed panel study of approximately 7000 families in Britain, investigating the circumstances of all families with dependent children. It covers a range of topics including: health; disability and caring; education; income; childcare; child maintenance; housing; transport; and labour market activity.
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