Survey finds larger lower-income families most likely to borrow for essentials
The findings suggest larger families are more at risk of acute financial pressures overall, amid widespread calls for the Government to scrap the two-child benefit limit in universal credit.
Nearly nine in 10 surveyed families (88%) reported going without daily essentials, compared with 82% of households with fewer children.
The research found 82% of larger families were found to be in arrears on bills, compared with 66% of households with fewer children and 27% of those without children.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), which conducted the survey, said the results demonstrated the importance of scrapping the two-child limit to deliver improvement in children's lives.
The JRF also argued that Government efforts to improve family services, early education and access to childcare 'must be complemented by measures to boost incomes'.
Maudie Johnson Hunter, economist at the JRF, called for the Government to put families' financial security 'at the heart of everything they do' as the cost of living 'is still grinding them down'.
She added: 'The Government can rewrite this story of enduring hardship.
'It has already begun with its plans to give children the best start in life by expanding family services and making high-quality childcare and early years education more accessible.
'But record numbers of large families are in arrears or have no choice but to take out loans to pay for essentials.
'Scrapping the two-child limit in universal credit would make an immediate difference to these children's lives.
'The Government must put families' financial security at the heart of everything they do.
'They must get on with giving low-income families some breathing room from the latest bill rise or overdue rent payment.
'Only then can we swap out the present story of precariousness with one of stability for every family.'
The latest official estimates, for the year to March 2024, suggest there were a record 4.45 million children living in poverty in the UK.
Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza recently said some young people in England are living in an 'almost-Dickensian level of poverty' and insisted the two-child limit must be scrapped.
The Government is expected to publish a child poverty strategy in the autumn.
When MPs debated welfare reforms last week, Government frontbenchers rolled back on their plan to reform the separate personal independence payment benefit, vowing to revisit any proposed changes only after a review by social security minister Sir Stephen Timms.
The research showed that families with the 40% lowest incomes which include someone with a disability face higher rates of hardship.
Of these families, 69% have gone without everyday essentials compared with 54% of families with no disabled people.
These rates increase for working-age families in receipt of disability benefits, with 78% of these households going without essentials.
This rises to 88% for families with children.
The two-child benefit limit came into effect under the Conservatives in April 2017.
The Government has been approached for comment.
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Daily Mail
21 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
JEFF PRESTRIDGE: Why is it so difficult to get our pensions in one place?
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The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Lionesses' victory showed strong & proud England at its finest… the return of unapologetic patriotism was long overdue
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North Wales Live
3 hours ago
- North Wales Live
State Pension age rise for some people to start next year - here's what you need to know
The State Pension age is due to begin its rise from 66 to 67 next year, with the increase expected to be fully implemented for all men and women across the UK by 2028. This planned alteration to the official retirement age has been in legislation since 2014, with an additional increase from 67 to 68 scheduled to take place between 2044 and 2046. The Pensions Act 2014 expedited the increase in the State Pension age from 66 to 67 by eight years. The UK Government also altered the method of phasing in the increase in State Pension age, meaning that instead of reaching State Pension age on a specific date, individuals born between March 6 1961 and April 5 1977 will be eligible to claim the State Pension once they turn 67. It's crucial to be aware of these impending changes now, particularly if you have a retirement plan in place. All those affected by alterations to their State Pension age will receive a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) well in advance. Under the Pensions Act 2007, the State Pension age for both men and women will rise from 67 to 68 between 2044 and 2046. The Pensions Act 2014 mandates a regular review of the State Pension age, at least once every five years. This review will be centred around the concept that individuals should be able to spend a certain proportion of their adult life receiving a State Pension, reports the Daily Record. A review of the planned rise to 68 is due before the end of this decade and had originally been scheduled by the then Conservative government to take place two years after the general election - which would have been 2026. Any review of the State Pension age will take into account life expectancy along with a range of other factors relevant to setting the State Pension age. After the review has reported, the UK Government may then choose to bring forward changes to the State Pension age. However, any proposals would have to go through Parliament before becoming law. Check your State Pension age online Your State Pension age is the earliest age you can start receiving your State Pension. It may be different to the age you can get a workplace or personal pension. Anyone of any age can use the online tool at to check their State Pension age, which can be an essential part of planning your retirement. You can use the State Pension age tool to check: When you will reach State Pension age Your Pension Credit qualifying age When you will be eligible for free bus travel - this is at age 60 in Scotland Check your State Pension age online here. Boosting State Pension payments HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) recently announced more than 10,000 payments worth £12.5 million have been made by people through the new digital service to boost State Pensions since it launched last year. However, anyone keen to maximise their retirement income through the contributory benefit has just a few weeks left to fill any gaps in their National Insurance (NI) records going back as far as 2006. Usually people can only pay voluntary contributions for the past six tax years, and after the April 5 deadline this year the normal six-tax year time limit will apply. In 2023, the previous government extended the deadline to pay voluntary NI contributions to April 5, 2025 for those affected by new State Pension transitional arrangements, covering the tax years running from April 6, 2006 to April 5, 2018. The extended deadline has allowed people more time to consider what is right for them and make their contributions. Men born after April 6, 1951 and women born after April 6, 1953 are eligible to make voluntary NI contributions to boost their New State Pension. Some people may be entitled to NI credits rather than needing to pay contributions, so they will need to check and consider what is right for them. People can find out more about making voluntary contributions on here. People of working age can also check their State Pension forecast on here. Alice Haine, personal finance analyst at Bestinvest by Evelyn Partners, the online investment platform, said: 'People typically need at least 10 qualifying years of NI (national insurance) contributions to receive any state pension at all and at least 35 years to receive the full new State Pension - though they don't need to be consecutive years. 'Plugging gaps can be quite an expensive process, so it is important to assess whether you actually need to buy back any missing years. This will depend on how many more years you plan to work, and whether you are eligible for NI tax credits, which fill the gaps, such as those who have been sick, were unemployed or took time out to raise a family or care for elderly relations. 'Plugging gaps in your record is relatively straightforward since the Government rolled out its new NI payments services in April last year - a State Pension forecast tool that has been checked by 3.7m since its launch.' She continued: 'People simply need to log into their personal tax account or the HMRC app to not only view any payment gaps but also check if they can plug those gaps directly through the Government's digital channels. 'A short survey assesses the person's suitability to pay online with those eligible to pay directly given a series of options to plug any gaps depending on when someone wants to stop working. 'Calculating whether to top up can be confusing though and ultimately there is no point paying for more years than you need because you won't get that money back.' Ms Haine added: 'People who might need to top up include those that took a career break as well as low earners or expatriates living and working abroad.
