In the four years under investigation, 38% of families with children experienced income poverty at least once.
Our analysis showed that over one in ten (12%) families
with children experienced persistent poverty between 2001 and
2004.
And more families with children experienced poverty over this
period than standard point-in-time surveys may suggest. In the four
years under investigation, nearly two in five (38%) families with
children experienced income poverty at least once.
Back to topChildren living in persistently poor families were more likely to be suspended or expelled from school
Children from persistently poor families were more likely
to experience other disadvantages than children who were only
temporarily poor over the same period.
For example, children living in persistently poor families were
more likely to be suspended or expelled from school, to live in bad
housing, and to go without regular physical exercise than children
from temporarily poor families.
Back to topWorkless families were the most likely to experience persistent poverty
Workless families were the most likely to experience
persistent poverty - 40% of workless couple families and 46% of
workless lone-parent families. Other families at risk of persistent
poverty were families with young mothers and those living in social
housing.
Back to topHaving only one parent in paid work is not a guarantee of avoiding persistent poverty
Having a parent in work for at least 16 hours per week is
the key factor keeping a family out of persistent poverty. However,
having only one parent in paid work is not a guarantee of avoiding
persistent poverty - 7% of couple families with only one person in
paid work experienced persistent poverty over the
period.
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