Before Xmas there was a report which stated at 1 in 3 of children in Northern Ireland live in poverty.

Now, before I start, yes I believe that there is poverty here and severe poverty in some cases. However, I was just watching that Spotlight programme tonight and I can't help but feeling you can tell whatever story you want with a camera and that the 30% / 1 in 3 which was continually mentioned is a bit misleading.

This is not a subject I proclaim to know anything about. It was even highlighted on the programme how much misinformation there is about poverty here. I'll happily stand corrected by anyone who knows more than myself.

Is this figure genuine? I thought about all my friends and their kids, then realised that they are all from the same class as myself so it is hard for me to judge personally.

I was thinking about this and pondered whether the property boom here has contributed to significant increases in wealth for some and has had a knock on effect of the determination of poverty. Could it be that the means of calculating poverty has become distorted and does not take this into consideration.

How is poverty calculated?


If the figures are correct, or even anywhere near to being correct, then its a fecking disgrace that this is happening.

Maybe like all things there are a few scrouncers on the benefits painting the others with a bad name. Farmers suffer the same sterotyping due to a minority.

The problem with poverty definitions in the west is that it is really a measure of inequality. Anyone earning 60% or less from the mean is defined as in poverty. There will always be people in this bracket - like the old saying "50% of people are below average" which must be true to allow calculation of the average

http://www.poverty.org.uk/summary/key%20facts.shtml


Amazing - if a 4 person family after taxes, rent etc are paid have less than a grand a month they are considered in poverty. That must equate to a yearly income of 20+k

I also remember reading that if you do not go away on holiday for at least a week, once a year - you are in poverty

Amazingly, many people in poverty are probably working

using that less than a grand a month equation.....I'm living in poverty

after paying bills for everything from rent to travel to child maintenance each month - I'm left with 90 pounds a month to live off, i.e. buying food etc... roughly 3 quid a day

little wonder I haven't been on a night out since last year. Can t really see me getting out any time soon till my birthday in April

...sorry having a rant type day today

all true. Not the best way to calculate poverty.
I'm not sure that actual poverty is the real issue - more the poverty trap. I did not catch all of the programme last night so may well stand corrected.
National minimum wage for people over 22 is £5.52 per hour. Work a 35hr week = £193.20 p/w = £10,046.40 p/a. After tax that relates to about £168 a week. If you have kids they there is no way you can afford to work in a low paid job. For many they do not see the benefit of working in a job for slightly more money that living on benefits. I know there are tax credits and everyones case is different, but basically the govt keep a certain section of the community 'surviving' and toked up on cocktails of anti depression drugs. Not a pretty life.