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<p>This government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living.
We are providing total support of over £94bn over 2022-23 and 2023-24 to help households
and individuals with the rising bills.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, government is committed
to reducing poverty, including child poverty, and supporting low-income families and
has overseen significant falls in absolute poverty since 2009/10.</p><p> </p><p>In
2021/22 there were 1.7 million fewer people in absolute poverty after housing costs
than in 2009/10, including 400,000 fewer children, 1 million fewer working age adults
and 200,000 fewer pensioners. Rates of absolute poverty after housing costs for individuals
in families in receipt of Universal Credit have also fallen by 12ppt since 2019/20.</p><p>
</p><p>With almost one million job vacancies across the UK, our focus remains firmly
on supporting people, including parents, to move into and progress in work. This approach
is based on clear evidence about the importance of employment, particularly where
it is full-time, in substantially reducing the risks of poverty. The latest statistics
show that in 2021/22 children living in workless households were 5 times more likely
to be in absolute poverty, after housing costs, than those where all adults work.</p><p>
</p><p>To help people into work, our core Jobcentre offer provides a range of options,
including face-to-face time with work coaches and interview assistance. In addition,
there is specific support targeted towards young people, people aged 50 plus and job
seekers with disabilities or health issues.</p><p> </p><p>To support those who are
in work, from 1 April 2023, the National Living Wage (NLW) increased by 9.7% to £10.42
an hour for workers aged 23 and over - the largest ever cash increase for the NLW.
In addition, the voluntary in-work progression offer started to roll-out in April
2022. It is now available in all Jobcentres across Great Britain. We estimate that
around 1.4m low-paid benefit claimants will be eligible for support to progress into
higher-paid work.</p><p> </p><p>To further support parents into work, on 28th June
2023, the maximum monthly amounts that a parent can be reimbursed for their childcare
increased by 47%, from £646.35 for one child and £1,108.04 for two or more children
to £950.92 and £1,630.15 respectively. Importantly, we can now also provide even more
help with upfront childcare costs when parents move into work or increase their hours.
This means that a parent who needs this additional financial help can now be provided
with funding towards both their first and second set of costs (or increased costs),
upfront, thereby easing them into the UC childcare costs cycle.</p>
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