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<p>The most recent available data, covering 2021/22, shows that relative poverty rates
for children remain unchanged since 2009/10. On an absolute basis, which better represents
changes to actual living standards, the rate after housing costs has fallen by 5 percentage
points across the same period. There were 400,000 fewer children in absolute poverty
after housing costs in 2021/22 compared to 2009/10.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is
committed to reducing poverty, including child poverty, and supporting low-income
families. From April, and subject to Parliamentary approval, working age benefits
will rise by a further 6.7% in line with inflation and the increase in the Local Housing
Allowance rates to the 30<sup>th</sup> percentile of local market rates will give
further help to 1.6 million low-income households.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has
always believed that work is the best way to help families improve their financial
circumstances. This approach is based on clear evidence about the important role that
work - particularly full-time – can play in reducing the risks of poverty. In the
financial year 2021 to 2022, children living in households where all adults work were
around 5 times less likely to be in absolute poverty after housing costs than those
living in workless households.</p><p> </p><p>This is why, with over 900,000 vacancies
across the UK, our focus remains firmly on providing parents with the support they
need to move into and progress in work. Parents on Universal Credit who are moving
into work or increasing their hours can now get additional support with upfront childcare
costs, and we have also increased the childcare costs that they can claim back by
nearly 50%, up to £951 a month for one child and £1,630 for two or more children.</p><p>To
support those who are in work, on 1 April 2024, the Government will increase the National
Living Wage (NLW) for people aged 21 and over by 9.8% to £11.44 an hour, an increase
of over £1,800 to the gross annual earning of a full-time worker on the NLW.</p><p>The
Government is providing support worth £104 billion over 2022-23 to 2024-25 to help
households with the high cost of living, this clearly shows that we will always act
to ensure that the most vulnerable get the support they need, and we will continue
to keep all our existing programmes under review in the usual way.</p>
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