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Households Below Average Income Statistics Release
27 March 2025
Type
Written Ministerial Statement
Department
Department for Work and Pensions
At a Glance
Issue Summary
The statement addresses the publication of the Department for Work and Pensions' annual statistics on household incomes and living standards, highlighting increases in poverty and food insecurity since 2010/11.
Action Requested
The minister announces actions to support low-income individuals, including a Child Poverty Strategy and increased efforts to boost Pension Credit uptake among eligible pensioners. The government is committed to reducing poverty and improving living standards through targeted initiatives and supporting good work as the best route out of poverty.
Key Facts
- Households Below Average Income statistics show an increase of 1.2 million people in relative poverty after housing costs since 2010/11.
- Median household incomes fell by 2% in 2023/24 compared to the previous year, both before and after housing costs.
- Child poverty increased across all measures, with nearly 1 in 5 children (2.6 million) living in food insecure households in 2023/24.
- The number of individuals using a food bank increased by 500,000 to 2.8 million people in 2023/24.
- Since the election, the government has taken action to support low-income individuals and increase Pension Credit uptake by 81% compared with the same period last year.
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