What is life like for people experiencing poverty?

Some aspects of financial wellbeing have improved for low-income
households in recent years, although the gap between low-income and high-income households remains marked. Exposure to the risk of fuel poverty is highly skewed by household income, with virtually all households with the lowest income experiencing
fuel poverty, in contrast to virtually none of the highest earning
households. For both adults and children, living on a low income is associated with lower levels of mental wellbeing. Similarly, it is associated with shorter lives and more years with ill health. It is problematic to ‘blame the poor’ for adverse health outcomes, with living on a low income sometimes being associated with more positive health behaviours – eg, lower levels of alcohol consumption. Living in a deprived area is generally associated with less neighbourhood satisfaction, although there is a slightly higher level of satisfaction with public transport services. Children from deprived areas are consistently reported to have poorer access to local opportunities for safe play and to participate in fewer activities, compared with children living beyond these areas.