Press Story

New analysis finds 46 per cent of children in families with non-UK born parents live in poverty
“I can’t buy clothes for my children, I can’t buy them shoes, I can’t buy them a single toy, I can’t buy them snacks”
Government can’t tackle child poverty without addressing key issues in the migration system, says IPPR

Hundreds of thousands of children in the UK from migrant families are affected by poverty and are being held back in life, according to a new report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).

The think tank warns that the upcoming child poverty strategy, expected to be published in Spring, will fail unless it addresses the deepening crisis of hardship amongst children with parents born outside of the UK.

New analysis by IPPR reveals how children in migrant families, many of whom were born in the UK themselves and may have one British parent, are disproportionately affected by poverty:

Over a third of children in poverty are in families with parents born outside of the UK: 1.5 million children in poverty in the UK live in families with migrant parents
Nearly half of children in families with parents born outside of the UK are in poverty: 46 per cent of children of non-UK-born parents live in poverty, compared to 25 per cent of other children
Children in families with migrant parents are more than twice as likely to be in very deep poverty: 21 per cent of children of non-UK born parents live in very deep poverty, compared to 8 per cent of other children

The research says children with migrant parents are more likely than other children to not have their own bedrooms, go on school trips, have a hobby, have friends over, celebrate special occasions, and eat nutritious food.

This has long-term consequences for children who are likely to spend their entire lives in the UK. Growing up in poverty harms their future health and career prospects, increasing potential costs to society and the economy.

The report outlines key reasons for why migrant families are disproportionately affected by poverty. These include legal barriers such as the ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ (NRPF) condition, which prohibits parents from receiving benefits including universal credit, child benefit, and personal independence payment, as well as social housing and homelessness assistance.

Other reasons include institutional barriers such as steep visa and legal fees – for example the £1,258 cost to extend leave to remain on family visas – as well as practical and social barriers such as discrimination, stigma and language barriers.

The authors of the report spoke to migrant families who are living in poverty:

Hafsa is on the skilled worker visa and a mother of two. She said: “I can’t even buy clothes for my children. I can’t buy them shoes; I can’t buy them a single toy. I can’t buy them snacks… In the last 10 days of the month, I struggle to buy food for the children.”
Sharon moved to the UK when she was 10 years old, 24 years ago. Her husband is British and her two daughters were born here, but she is still not allowed to work. Sharon said: “I’ve been dealing with immigration now for 24 years, and I am yet to rest and just feel at ease.”
Daria is going through the process of securing leave to remain. She said: “[The council] were telling me, they’d rather me go back to my country… but [my daughter] is not a St Lucian, she’s a British citizen. Why do you want me to force her to go? There’s better opportunity for her here – that’s where she’s from, that’s where she’s born.”

The government’s pledge to reduce child poverty through a cross-government taskforce offers an opportunity to drastically improve the lives of young people with families on low incomes – however, it can’t ignore children with migrant parents, says the think tank. IPPR recommends:

Removing the NRPF condition from families with children on a route to settlement after five years of continuous legal residence
Ensuring the consistent implementation of Section 17 support by establishing statutory guidance for English councils, so migrant families facing destitution receive timely and equitable support
Extend childcare provision to working parents with NRPF to support parents into work and improve school-readiness of children

Amreen Qureshi, research fellow at IPPR, said:

“Our new research lays bare the scale of child poverty in migrant families. Families who have lived, worked, and contributed to the UK for years are being locked out of support and forced into poverty. No child should go without food, clothing, or a safe home simply because of their parents’ immigration status.

"The upcoming child poverty strategy is a crucial moment for the government to address some of the causes of poverty that lie within our migration system. If they get this right, not only will it enable them to make strides in their efforts to bring down child poverty, they could also help remove some of the huge financial pressures on cash strapped local councils.”

ENDS

Amreen Qureshi and Marley Morris, the report’s authors, are available for interview

Case studies are available for interview

CONTACT

David Wastell, Director of News and Communications: 07921 403651 d.wastell@ippr.org

Liam Evans, Senior Digital and Media Officer: 07419 365334 l.evans@ippr.org

NOTES TO EDITORS

The IPPR paper will be available for download at: https://www.ippr.org/articles/hidden-hardships
Advance copies of the report are available under embargo on request
The analysis in this report is based on the Family Resources Survey and the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data from the financial year 2022/23. The analysis focuses on children in families (benefit units) where the couple are non-UK born or, in single adult families, where the single adult is non-UK born.
Poverty is defined as when a household’s income is below 60% of the median income after housing costs. Very deep poverty is when a household's income is below 40% of the median income after housing costs.
Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 states that the local authority has a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children ‘in need’. This is only applicable in England, but there is equivalent legislation in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Section 17 support entails the offer of assistance such as housing, financial aid, and practical support. For families with NRPF, it serves as a critical lifeline, as it is not classified as a ‘public fund’ under immigration rules, allowing local authorities to provide essential help despite the families' restricted access to mainstream welfare benefits.
All names of case studies used in this press release are pseudonyms
IPPR (the Institute for Public Policy Research) is an independent charity working towards a fairer, greener, and more prosperous society. We are researchers, communicators, and policy experts creating tangible progressive change, and turning bold ideas into common sense realities. Working across the UK, IPPR, IPPR North, and IPPR Scotland are deeply connected to the people of our nations and regions, and the issues our communities face. We have helped shape national conversations and progressive policy change for more than 30 years. From making the early case for the minimum wage and tackling regional inequality, to proposing a windfall tax on energy companies, IPPR’s research and policy work has put forward practical solutions for the crises facing society. www.ippr.org