Today we published a joint briefing, in collaboration with Contact, Praxis, Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), Z2K (Zacchaeus 2000 Trust), The Runnymede Trust and The Baby Bank Alliance, on tackling child poverty among the groups at greatest risk. 

With the government expected to deliver a Child Poverty Strategy later this year, the briefing calls for investment in the social security system and wider supports to feature at the heart of its plans in order to reduce child poverty for all children. 

The risk of child poverty is higher among some groups 

In the UK, an estimated 4.5 million children (31%) are living in relative poverty, and without meaningful government action, the rate of child poverty will rise sharply. 

The risk of child poverty is higher among some groups, including single-parent families, families with disabled children, families with a disabled parent, migrant families, Black and minority ethnic families, larger families and families with young children.  

Single-parent families and child poverty 

Single-parent families face a particularly high risk of poverty and are also more likely to experience persistent poverty (to have been in relative poverty for at least three out of the past four years). 43% of children in single-parent families live in poverty, compared to 26% in couple-parent families.  

Most single parents are in work. However, to balance work and caring responsibilities, many are employed in part time and low paid roles. As a result, it’s not uncommon for single-parent families to rely on Universal Credit, but challenges such as strict conditionality, sanctions and the two-child limit can push them below the breadline. 

Ensuring the strategy delivers for all children 

There’s a major link between social security and child poverty, and a strong social security system that is inclusive of all families has great potential to reduce child poverty rates. Yet, successive cuts have dramatically weakened the UK’s social security system, leaving more and more families vulnerable.  

If the government is serious about tackling child poverty, it must ensure significant and sustained investment in social security lies at the core of its Child Poverty Strategy. This must be coupled with policy interventions for specific groups to tackle the increased risk of child poverty they face.  

For example, for single-parent households we know that the child poverty rate can be cut by 25% where child maintenance is received in full, showing the importance of significant reform to the child maintenance service for the success of the Child Poverty Strategy. 

Read the full briefing and recommendations below.