150,000 children of public sector workers living in poverty

TUC analysis has suggested that one in seven children with a parent working in the public sector will be living in poverty by the end of this financial year.

Since 2010, an extra 150,000 children have been pushed below the breadline as a result of the government’s public sector pay restrictions and in-work benefit cuts, meaning 550,000 will be below the poverty line this April – an increase of 40 per cent.

The analysis also shows that the average household income for a public sector working family will be down around £83 a week in real terms by April 2018, whereas households where one parent works in the public sector and another works in the private sector will lose on average £53 a week.

Frances O’Grady, TUC General Secretary, said: “The government's pay restrictions and in-work benefit cuts are causing needless hardship. Public servants shouldn’t have to worry about feeding or clothing their kids. But many are struggling to afford even the basics. Ministers must give public sector workers the pay rise they have earned. If they don't more families will fall into poverty.”

Separate TUC analysis shows that holding down public servants’ pay reduced spending power by £8.5 billion in England alone last year.