Recession's impact on child poverty 'yet to be seen'

November 05 2009

It is still unclear how the economic crisis has affected levels of child poverty in this country, says a research charity.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation claims the majority of data regarding poverty was recorded before the recession.

Chris Goulden, the organisation's policy research manager, said any new figures are unlikely to be straightforward as earning levels overall are going down and poverty tends to be measured against average income.

He explained the government currently calculates poverty as 60 per cent below the median UK wage, but added other factors - such as where people live and how many dependents they have - would also affect the rating.

According to a new report from Campaign to End Child Poverty, the number of children living in families surviving on benefits has jumped by 170,000 in twelve months.

The study warned of a new "poverty crisis" caused by rising levels of unemployment that costs the country around £25 billion every year.

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