Explore changes in poverty and low income in Elmbridge Surrey
The report sheds light on growing poverty in Elmbridge. Overall, the borough ranks highly on a range of indicators, from employment levels to income. However, poverty and disadvantage exist under the spotlight. More and more children are living in low-income families, and an increasing number of them are working families. With the cost of living rising and wages not keeping up, some residents are facing a range of hardships from being unable to make ends meet: from inadequate housing to food poverty and poor happiness.
Poverty areas in Elmbridge are growing…
Across the borough, there are fewer low-income residents than many other parts of England. Digging at the surface, however, reveals poverty and low incomes in Elmbridge, as well as signs of worsening conditions in recent years.
For example, child poverty levels are generally lower but higher in specific wards. In 2021, 6.5% of children across Elmbridge will be in relative poverty, compared to 15% in Elmbridge’s West Mosley district. What’s more, child poverty is growing faster in already poorer areas of Elmbridge. Elmbridge’s child relative poverty rate has increased by 1.7% since 2015. During the same period, the child poverty rate in Mosley West increased by 4%.
While Elmbridge is a delightful place in many ways, it also hides challenges. Despite this perception, poverty and low incomes remain unknown.
…when the cost of living goes up
Elmbridge is an expensive place to live, with necessities like housing and childcare costing more than many other parts of the country. As a result, poverty statistics are likely not to cover all people struggling to make ends meet locally.
This is not a new problem. Homes in the borough have been expensive for some time, but have gotten worse in recent years as the prices of necessities continue to outstrip wages. For example, median house prices have grown to more than 14 times median income, and rents are correspondingly higher. The median rent for a two-bedroom property is now more than 40 per cent higher than the national median.
Inflation and rising utility and food costs, while not unique to Elmbridge, have put additional pressure on already stretched household resources. Residents cited huge increases in their energy bills and weekly shopping, and had to decide who to pay and who not to pay in a given month. This severely affects the ability of those below the official low-income threshold and some above it to make ends meet. Those who used to just manage are now struggling to make ends meet.
Poverty and unemployment at work are leaving Some people are more vulnerable to rising costs
Trends over the past few years have made residents more vulnerable to these rising costs, especially rising working poverty rates. In Elmbridge, the majority (75%) of families with poor children are working families.
While average wages are higher than elsewhere, working hours are problematic, especially for parents, due to childcare costs. Parents face a stark choice: sacrifice time and income to avoid paying sky-high care costs, or work longer hours and lose the extra income to pay for care. Especially for single parents, it’s like a poverty trap with little way out.
Elmbridge also has a wider pay gap. For those on the edge of this gap, incomes are not sufficient to meet the high local cost of living. For example, a single parent with two children needs to earn more than £45,000 a year to meet the minimum standard of living that the public considers acceptable to local society. They need to be in the top 50% of Elmbridge’s income to meet this standard.
Finally, while unemployment is falling after a sharp spike during the pandemic, the number of Elmbridge residents claiming unemployment-related benefits is still more than 27% above pre-pandemic levels, with 20 to 34-year-olds filing The percentage receiving unemployment benefits is higher than pre-pandemic levels. any other group. For families without a working wage, the support of universal credit and other benefits falls far short of what is needed for a socially acceptable standard of living.
Low income is taking its toll, but there’s still a lot to do
Those who do not have enough income to survive will face a range of difficulties. Residents are enduring inhospitable housing conditions, while high rents and utility bills mean little left over for other necessities such as food. Residents are increasingly reliant on food bank support, skipping meals and starving. Daily expenses struggle to keep up, so trips to the dentist, optometrist and hairdresser are missed, while broken household items remain unrepaired. The stress of living without adequate means is damaging well-being and mental health.
Despite the life challenges faced by low-income people in Elmbridge, local people and organizations can work together to ensure the borough is a better place for everyone, from social action and service delivery to campaigns and advocacy to influence policy change . Based on residents’ input, we recommend promoting awareness of pre-existing cost-of-living supports, expanding support to cover childcare costs, and taking additional steps to reduce the cost of care, providing residents with improved employability skills and experience, and exploring the possibilities of a Surrey wage-weighting scheme , and advocates for action to increase the stock of genuine affordable housing in Elmbridge.
