Soaring energy prices could lead to higher child poverty incidence in Europe and worldwide. There are an estimated 1.8 million children in the UK who are growing up in extreme poverty, according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF).
And this could even worsen due to soaring energy prices in Europe and worldwide. In stark contrast to the figures in 2012, the current estimate is an increase of 500,000 more children living in intense poverty.
A family earning £9,900 or less a year, exclusive of taxes and housing expenses, is regarded as living in intense poverty but may still vary according to the JRF.
Shivering children in the wee hours of the morning
One of the current manifestations of extreme child poverty in the UK due to high energy prices is shivering children during the wee hours of the morning due to some families being incapable of keeping the heating on. Heating a 3-bedroom UK home during the winter can cost up to more or less £300 a month which is already a massive blow to many low-income households.
Katie Schmuecker, who serves as the deputy director of policy of an anti-poverty charity in York, maintained that budgets of low-income families might be railroaded due to skyrocketing energy prices. Unfortunately, according to the energy industry, gas and electricity prices will be increasing even further in the following months.
According to Schmuecker, childhood should not be an experience of constant struggle to afford the necessities, but now more children are waking up in the shivering cold. With the current steep energy prices, more and more families turn to charities to seek help relating to debt and budget struggles.
The significant impact of tight budgets has been evident in the poor mental health of both parents and children around the UK. The JRF has pointed out that more and more households will spend a considerable chunk of their energy bills, mainly when prices are bound to soar higher this April. This, in turn, will increase child poverty and hurt more families.
According to Emma Pinchbeck of Energy UK, the economy is already feeling the negative impact of the surging gas and energy prices. She said that the prices are record-breaking and unprecedented and may continue to get steeper.
Measures to address energy prices and child poverty
Pinbeck noted that the government is working on measures and decisive steps to protect consumers and support families. However, other efforts from other European countries can be emulated, such as the tax cuts in Spain and other levies.
The government has provided support to low-income households and other vulnerable families amounting to around £4.2 billion through various initiatives such as the Energy Price Cap, the £500M Household Support Fund, and the Warm Home Discount.
However, for Schmuecker, urgent action is needed to strengthen the social security system of the UK as the basic rate of benefits is currently at its lowest rate in 30 years, deeming it quite inadequate.
Changes are necessary to support the people living under extreme pressure due to the surging costs of energy prices. The government must intervene and address the problems and develop measures to reduce child poverty so that no child in the UK wakes up shivering.
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