An incredible
half a million more children will be below the poverty line within three years,
the Institute for Fiscal Studies found today.
A couple with
two children will be £1,250 a year worse off by 2015 and lone unemployed
parents will lose a hefty £2,000 of their annual income. The study also warns that 500,000 more
children will fall into absolute poverty by 2015-16, with most coming from
households where the youngest child is aged under five.
The IFS analysis
shows there will be a 0.9 per cent drop felt across all households because of
the Con-Dem government's draconian cuts. It predicts a fall in income of £215 a year
for couples with no children.
The report,
entitled The Impact of Austerity Measures on Households with Children, found
that an income in any home with children is set to fall in real terms by 4.2
per cent by 2015-16.
Homes with
children aged under five face a 4.9 per cent drop in income by 2015-16 because
these tend to be households which rely more on social security than those
without young children.
The report also
expressed "very real concern" that single parents face the challenge
of finding a flexible job in a shrinking labour market as well as mounting
childcare costs.
Dr Katherine
Rake, chief executive of the Family and Parenting Institute which commissioned
the study, said: "It is particularly surprising to see that some of the
most vulnerable groups, such as families with new babies and lone parents out
of work, are bearing the brunt of the tax and benefit reforms."
Shadow minister
for women and equalities Yvette Cooper said the report left the Prime
Minister's promise to be a family-friendly government "in tatters". "Women and
children are paying the highest price."
"David
Cameron and his Cabinet are completely out of touch with the pressures on
families across Britain."
