1. incomes, costs and adequacy Money Advice Scotland - 23 June 2017
Solving poverty:
incomes, costs and adequacy
Money Advice Scotland - 23 June 2017

2. JRF definition of poverty
When a household lacks the resources to meet their needs
Resources are mainly but not wholly financial
Reducing costs as well as boosting incomes may help households avoid or escape poverty
Current poverty measures need to be complemented with a measure of adequacy: the Minimum Income Standard
MIS calculated every year plus estimates for remote rural Scotland (HIE)

3. Towards income adequacy
When a household lacks the resources to meet their needs; Resources are mainly but not wholly financial; Reducing costs as well as boosting incomes may help households avoid or escape poverty; Current measures complemented with a more stretching measure of adequacy: the Minimum Income Standard

4. Poverty in real money
Household
Per week
Per year
Single person
£141
£7,300
Single parent, two children
£291
£15,200
Couple
£243
£12,700
Couple, two children
£393
£20,500

8. The cost of essentials

10. Address the drivers of poverty

11. Address the drivers of poverty locally
Fairness/Anti-Poverty Commissions: 30+ across GB
Participation: voices of people in poverty
Pockets: Living wage employment, advice & advocacy to maximise incomes and reduce costs, Scottish Welfare Fund and CTR
Prospects: Quality of early learning/childcare, reduce the attainment gap, quality of careers advice, adult skills and progression
Places: Affordable housing, PRS standards, transport and digital, co-location approaches (e.g. Building Connections)

12. Reduce costs: the poverty premium
Rolling loans scheme for private landlords to improve energy standards, expand social enterprise letting agencies, extend Housing First approach
Devolve all childcare funding in next decade and move towards supply-side model with greater certainty on costs and quality
Boost affordable credit schemes like ScotCash
Target fuel poverty support towards lower-income households. JRF funding for Our Power
Disrupt the rent-to-buy market for white goods and furniture. JRF investing in Fair For You

13. Low pay: almost half of Scottish workers receiving working tax credits are in shops, care, bars/restaurants, hotels

14. In-work training: access by hours, pay and qualifications

15. JRF’s work in 2017
Priority themes: in-work poverty & progression; inclusive growth in and beyond the city-regions; reducing costs; social security
Financial stake in Fair for You fund working with Big Society Capital to reduce the poverty premium
Co-investment in Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland’s Place-Based programme and BITC Scotland’s Responsible Business network
Support for Glasgow Together: construction jobs at living wage for ex-offenders
Support for the Poverty Truth Commission model

16. @jrf_uk #SolveUKPoverty
@JimMcCormick16