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UK life costs 'at least £13,400' | UK life costs 'at least £13,400' | ||||||
(about 6 hours later) | |||||||
A single person in Britain needs to earn at least £13,400 a year before tax for a minimum standard of living, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) says. | A single person in Britain needs to earn at least £13,400 a year before tax for a minimum standard of living, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) says. | ||||||
A couple with two children need to spend £370 a week and a pensioner couple need £201 excluding housing and childcare costs, the charity says. | A couple with two children need to spend £370 a week and a pensioner couple need £201 excluding housing and childcare costs, the charity says. | ||||||
Film tickets, a bottle of wine and a bird feeder were on the list of goods people need to participate in society. | Film tickets, a bottle of wine and a bird feeder were on the list of goods people need to participate in society. | ||||||
The JRF's figures are higher than some government estimates. | The JRF's figures are higher than some government estimates. | ||||||
See how much it costs people to live for a week | See how much it costs people to live for a week | ||||||
According to the report, which took two years to put together, the spending power needed to pay for a basic but socially acceptable standard of living was higher than the official government calculated poverty line. | According to the report, which took two years to put together, the spending power needed to pay for a basic but socially acceptable standard of living was higher than the official government calculated poverty line. | ||||||
Staying alive | Staying alive | ||||||
The report combined academic study with a consensus from 39 different groups of people to come up with a series of benchmarks for an acceptable cost of living in Britain. | The report combined academic study with a consensus from 39 different groups of people to come up with a series of benchmarks for an acceptable cost of living in Britain. | ||||||
This government is committed to a fairer, more inclusive society, providing opportunity for all Department for Work and Pensions Take the living standards quizWhat are the basics of Britain?Send us your comments | This government is committed to a fairer, more inclusive society, providing opportunity for all Department for Work and Pensions Take the living standards quizWhat are the basics of Britain?Send us your comments | ||||||
The definition of a minimum standard of living was not merely the amount of money needed for survival, and included "more than just food, clothes and shelter", the report explained. | The definition of a minimum standard of living was not merely the amount of money needed for survival, and included "more than just food, clothes and shelter", the report explained. | ||||||
"It is about having what you need in order to have the opportunities and choices necessary to participate in society," it said. | "It is about having what you need in order to have the opportunities and choices necessary to participate in society," it said. | ||||||
For a single person of working age that included walking boots, a pay-as-you-go mobile phone and a bicycle. For all these "essential" items, and rent on a modest council home, a single person would need £13,400 a year before tax, the JRF says. | For a single person of working age that included walking boots, a pay-as-you-go mobile phone and a bicycle. For all these "essential" items, and rent on a modest council home, a single person would need £13,400 a year before tax, the JRF says. | ||||||
For a pensioner couple, an occasional carvery meal and a bird feeder were on the list, and a single mother needed £210 a week - excluding housing and childcare costs - for items including nappies for the baby and a Christmas tree. | For a pensioner couple, an occasional carvery meal and a bird feeder were on the list, and a single mother needed £210 a week - excluding housing and childcare costs - for items including nappies for the baby and a Christmas tree. | ||||||
Families should get the chance to have a one-week self-catering holiday in the UK, the report said. | Families should get the chance to have a one-week self-catering holiday in the UK, the report said. | ||||||
Needs not wants | Needs not wants | ||||||
The study excluded "aspirational" items, and the JRF said it was aimed at starting a discussion about what was an acceptable standard of living. | The study excluded "aspirational" items, and the JRF said it was aimed at starting a discussion about what was an acceptable standard of living. | ||||||
Advertisement | Advertisement | ||||||
Life's little luxuries or modern day necessities? | |||||||
"This research is designed to encourage debate and to start building a public consensus about what level of income no one should have to live below," said the JRF's director Julia Unwin. | "This research is designed to encourage debate and to start building a public consensus about what level of income no one should have to live below," said the JRF's director Julia Unwin. | ||||||
READ THE BUDGETS IN FULL Single working-age males [271.67KB]Pensioner couples [365.69KB]Couples with two children [473.82KB]Lone parents with one child [356.59KB] | READ THE BUDGETS IN FULL Single working-age males [271.67KB]Pensioner couples [365.69KB]Couples with two children [473.82KB]Lone parents with one child [356.59KB] | ||||||
Most computers will open these documents automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | Most computers will open these documents automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | ||||||
"Of course, everyone has their own views about what items in a family budget are essential. But this is the best effort to date to enable ordinary people to discuss and agree what all households should be able to afford," she added. | "Of course, everyone has their own views about what items in a family budget are essential. But this is the best effort to date to enable ordinary people to discuss and agree what all households should be able to afford," she added. | ||||||
Experts ensured that the lists would provide an adequate diet and enough warmth to remain healthy. | Experts ensured that the lists would provide an adequate diet and enough warmth to remain healthy. | ||||||
According to the calculations, a single person working full-time would need to earn £6.88 an hour to reach the weekly minimum standard - which is more than the current statutory minimum wage of £5.52. | According to the calculations, a single person working full-time would need to earn £6.88 an hour to reach the weekly minimum standard - which is more than the current statutory minimum wage of £5.52. | ||||||
A single person on Income Support would get less than half this amount. | A single person on Income Support would get less than half this amount. | ||||||
An out-of-work family would get in state benefits two-thirds of what the JRF regarded as the minimum requirement, but pensioners on Pension Credit reached an acceptable level of income, the charity said. | An out-of-work family would get in state benefits two-thirds of what the JRF regarded as the minimum requirement, but pensioners on Pension Credit reached an acceptable level of income, the charity said. | ||||||
Poverty levels | Poverty levels | ||||||
Jonathan Bradshaw, professor of social policy at the University of York and co-author of the report, said that this was the first time the question of how much income was enough had been addressed. | Jonathan Bradshaw, professor of social policy at the University of York and co-author of the report, said that this was the first time the question of how much income was enough had been addressed. | ||||||
The government has pledged to end child poverty by 2020 | The government has pledged to end child poverty by 2020 | ||||||
Official measures of poverty have been based on relative income data. | Official measures of poverty have been based on relative income data. | ||||||
The official poverty line is a household with an income of 60% of the UK's median household, with the poverty line adjusted for family size. | The official poverty line is a household with an income of 60% of the UK's median household, with the poverty line adjusted for family size. | ||||||
The government has used this measure as the base for its pledge to halve child poverty by 2010, and to have eradicated it a decade later. | The government has used this measure as the base for its pledge to halve child poverty by 2010, and to have eradicated it a decade later. | ||||||
The JRF's report took in the views of people from a variety of social groups, in rural and urban areas, before coming up with an average for a cross-section of society. | The JRF's report took in the views of people from a variety of social groups, in rural and urban areas, before coming up with an average for a cross-section of society. | ||||||
It concluded that a car was not required by any social group, nor were cigarettes, but some alcohol consumed at home was acceptable. | It concluded that a car was not required by any social group, nor were cigarettes, but some alcohol consumed at home was acceptable. | ||||||
The JRF accepted that it could not be shown that everyone living below its minimum income standard would be in "hardship". | The JRF accepted that it could not be shown that everyone living below its minimum income standard would be in "hardship". | ||||||
Committed government | Committed government | ||||||
A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "This government is committed to a fairer, more inclusive society, providing opportunity for all. We have lifted 600,000 children and nearly a million pensioners out of poverty. | A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "This government is committed to a fairer, more inclusive society, providing opportunity for all. We have lifted 600,000 children and nearly a million pensioners out of poverty. | ||||||
"We have increased winter fuel payments to £400 for someone aged over 80 and £250 for 60 years plus. | "We have increased winter fuel payments to £400 for someone aged over 80 and £250 for 60 years plus. | ||||||
"We welcome the important contribution of this study." | "We welcome the important contribution of this study." | ||||||
COST OF LIVING IN 2008 | Family type | Weekly budget | Breakdown of expenditure | Single working age£157.84 Couple working age£240.61 Lone parent, one child£210.31 Lone parent, two children£282.66 Lone parent, three children£378.90 Couple, one child£286.45 Couple, two children£370.05 Couple, three children£465.71 Couple, four children£508.18 Single pensioner£136.60 Couple pensioner£201.49 COST OF LIVING IN 2008 | Family type | Weekly budget | Breakdown of expenditure | Single working age£157.84 Couple working age£240.61 Lone parent, one child£210.31 Lone parent, two children£282.66 Lone parent, three children£378.90 Couple, one child£286.45 Couple, two children£370.05 Couple, three children£465.71 Couple, four children£508.18 Single pensioner£136.60 Couple pensioner£201.49
Food and drink | Food and drink | ||||||
Fuel (heating etc) | Fuel (heating etc) | ||||||
Personal goods and services | Personal goods and services | ||||||
Other | Other | ||||||
Clothing | Clothing | ||||||
Travel | Travel | ||||||
Household goods, services, council tax etc | Household goods, services, council tax etc | ||||||
*Note: Weekly budget does not include housing or childcare costs. | *Note: Weekly budget does not include housing or childcare costs. | ||||||
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