UK Poverty Rises, Child Poverty Drops

0:00From across Europe, powered by AI, this is Europe News Today. I'm Cory with the story. New government data shows the number of people living in poverty in the UK climbed to about 13,400,000 in the year 20, 24, 2025. That's up nearly half a million from 12,930,000 the year before. Poverty is measured as households earning less than 60% of the national median income after housing costs. Meanwhile, child poverty saw a tiny drop with 4,030,000 kids affected last year compared to 4,040,000. Previously, the labor government just ended the two child benefit cap, which limited extra support for larger families. That change kicks in next month, but these stats cover the prior 12 months, so no effects show up yet. Officials predict scrapping the cap will pull around 450,000 children out of poverty by the end of 20,930. The data also uses a fresh calculation method starting from 2021-22, making older comparisons tricky.

1:05Groups fighting child poverty call this a key step forward, but stress the need for ongoing help to tackle the 4,000,000 kids still struggling, and build brighter futures.