Poverty in the UK today Based on 2006 figures

In the UK 3.4 million children live in poverty, many well below the poverty line. Child poverty

Pensioner poverty is falling but there’s still up to £4 Pensioner poverty is falling but there’s still up to £4.2 billion in benefits left unclaimed. Older age poverty

Half of all part-time workers – the majority women – were paid less than £6.50. Half of all children living in income poverty live in households where someone is in paid work. Low pay

A single person who’s not working receives £57 a week in Income Support, the same as a decade ago. Benefits

Asylum seekers aren’t allowed to work but receive a third less support than UK citizens on Income Support. Most asylum applications are refused. In June 2006, only 6,400 refused asylum seekers received government support. The rest received nothing. Thousands of asylum seekers are hungry and homeless because of deliberate policy and bureaucratic errors. Refugees and asylum seekers

The number of households in temporary accommodation has increased by nearly 120 per cent since 1996. Housing and homelessness

At 30 per cent, the poverty rate for disabled adults is twice that for non-disabled adults, a difference markedly higher than a decade ago. A graduate with a work-limiting disability is more likely to be lacking but wanting work than an unqualified person with no disability. Disability

At 30 per cent, the income poverty rate among Indians and Black Caribbeans is much higher than the 20 per cent among White British. Ethnic groups

The UK has one of the highest rates of child poverty in Europe.

Between 1. 8 and 2 million pensioners still live in poverty Between 1.8 and 2 million pensioners still live in poverty. Half of these people live in deep poverty, well below the breadline. Older age poverty

Benefits for both families with children and pensioners have increased by around a third in real terms since 1996. Benefits

In Britain today, 1.5 million children – that’s one in seven – are suffering in bad housing. Housing and homelessness

A third of older people from ethnic minorities live in poverty. Ethnic groups