An “unprecedented” fall in living standards means that, for the first time, more people in working families are living below the poverty line than those in workless and retired families combined.

This year’s Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion report, published by JRF and written by the New Policy Institute (NPI), gauges nationwide indicators of hardship.
More than half of all those in poverty – around 6.7 million people – live in a family with at least one adult who is working. Around 6.3 million people in out-of-work or retired families are in poverty.

It also reveals that the drop in median income over the last two years has wiped out all the gains of the previous decade.

One of the authors, Peter Kenway, of NPI, said: “Poorer members of society are under more pressure than at any time since the birth of the welfare state.”

Read a JRF blog by another of the report’s authors, Adam Tinson.

A FAIR AUTUMN STATEMENT?

The government’s Autumn Statement will do little to help the families most in need, or tackle the root causes of poverty, JRF believes.

Despite some encouraging economic news, the Chancellor’s announcements failed to address the rising cost of living – a huge burden on the 13 million people in poverty.

George Osborne described the measures as a “responsible recovery”, pledging to cap welfare spending, bring forward changes to the retirement age and give financial incentives to some married couples and small businesses.

JRF’s Chief Executive Julia Unwin said: “We heard much about a responsible recovery, but a lot less about a fair one which helps those in greatest need.”

Read Julia’s full response.

NEW CARE STAFF SHOULD PASS ‘KINDNESS’ TEST

The kindness and compassion of candidates should be tested when recruiting health and social care workers, the author of an independent review into sector standards has recommended.

In a JRF blog, Camilla Cavendish, author of the Cavendish Review, says more emphasis needs to be put on recruiting and retaining ‘kind’ staff, who must be given the time to respond to patients’ individual needs.

TACKLING LONELINESS MADE EASY

As TV personality Esther Rantzen launches Silver Line – a 24-hour free helpline for lonely older people – JRF has published a new loneliness resource pack with advice about how individuals, groups and communities can reduce loneliness where they live.

It is part of our three-year Neighbourhood Approaches to Loneliness programme.
Why does loneliness exist? Read our blogs or view infographics about the causes of loneliness in different communities that took part in our research.

Tracey Robbins, Programme Manager, Neighbourhood Approaches to Loneliness:

"Lonely People are more prone to

early admission to residential

or nursing care."

Follow Tracey on Twitter

NATION'S DEMENTIA PLEDGE

Britain will double its spending on dementia research over the next decade, Prime Minister David Cameron told the G8 Dementia Summit in London last week. But could we do more? Read the blog by JRF community development manager Katherine Blaker, who has worked extensively on our Dementia Without Walls programme.

Katherine Blaker, Community Development Manager, Ageing Society: "We are on the cusp of a fundamental change in the way we view and respond to people living with dementia." Follow Katherine on Twitter

A LOUDER VOICE FOR OLDER PEOPLE

As we face a crisis in the funding of public sector services, particularly due to cuts in social care, older people who need a higher level of support must have more say in how they are helped, a round-up of our Better Life research finds.

JRF Data: Visualisation and analysis of poverty, housing and care data.

Explore graphs, charts and maps showing the latest data and analysis of trends