Children in low income families: local area statistics
Source: gov.uk (2025-12-08)

Annual Official Statistics on the number and proportion of children living in low income families.

Following the successful completion of discovery work and a period of user engagement, this statistical release calibrates figures to Households Below Average Income (HBAI) single-year UK estimates (not regional estimates) and imputes receipt of Scottish Child Payment for eligible households so it is included as an income stream. Consequently, there are revisions to the back-series at UK, regional and local area level.

Following the successful completion of discovery work and a public consultation: Children in low income families - After Housing Costs Consultation Note - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-in-low-income-families-local-area-statistics-2014-to-2024/children-in-low-income-families-after-housing-costs-consultation-note), After Housing Costs local area child poverty statistics will be published in the next release in 2026.

For both Relative and Absolute measures, before Housing Costs, these annual statistics include counts of children by:
- local authority
- Westminster parliamentary constituency
- Ward
- Middle Super Output Area
- year (2014 to 2024)
- age of child
- gender of child
- family type
- work status of the family
Children in low income families - After Housing Costs Consultation Note (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-in-low-income-families-local-area-statistics-2014-to-2024).

We invite comments on the value of the proposed statistics and on the methodology and scope for any future release. Email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) with feedback and queries about the statistics.

Universal Credit Low Income Estimates

As noted in the Statistical work programme – GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-statistical-work-programme/statistical-work-programme) we are proposing to develop a measure of low income for families in receipt of Universal Credit (UC).

The measure would be produced from UC administrative data and cover numbers and percentages of UC families in low income, with guidance on similarities and differences compared with DWP’s other published low income measures such as Households Below Average Income and Children in Low Income Families. The measure would be available for local authorities and potentially local authority wards. It would also be available more frequently than annually (potentially quarterly) and with a short time lag compared with the reference period. For further information about or to comment on this proposed development, please contact: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Explore the statistics with our interactive tool

Find further breakdowns of these statistics on Stat-Xplore (https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/), an online tool for exploring some of DWP’s main statistics.

Future releases and developments

Find future release dates in the statistics release calendar (https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics?content_store_document_type=upcoming_statistics&order=updated-newest) and more about DWP statistics on the Statistics at DWP page (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/statistics).

Future developments to DWP official statistics and any changes to statistical methodology are outlined in the statistical work programme (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-statistical-work-programme).

Tell us what you think

Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics (https://code.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/the-code/) that all producers of official statistics should adhere to. You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards.

Email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) with feedback and queries about the statistics.

Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) or via the OSR website (https://osr.statisticsauthority.gov.uk).