Risk Factors
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Risk Factors This chapter examines key factors that evidence shows are associated with child poverty. These include: unemployment, low household income, financial exclusion, crime, domestic violence, substance misuse, housing and homelessness. For each factor we highlight latest prevalence rates and trends where data is available and compare with London, England and Bexley. We also describe current related interventions in Havering and make recommendations on addressing identified gaps. 3.1 Unemployment and low household income Summary Havering has a higher percentage of persons in employment (80% of persons aged 16-64) as compared to London (74%) and England (75%). However, only 43% are within the upper social class (manager, professional and associate professional) 1 as compared to 55% in London and 46% in England. There were 2,620 (age 16-64) unemployment related benefits claimants in Havering as of February 2018. This was a slightly lower percentage (1.7%) as compared to London (2.1%) and England (2%). 2 Among wards, Gooshays (350, 3.3%), Heaton (240, 2.8%) and Romford Town (225, 1.9%) have the highest number of unemployment related benefits claimants 3 while Upminster (40, 0.5%) has the lowest. The three wards with the highest number of claimants account for approximately a third (32%) of all cases whereas the lowest three (Cranham, Emerson Park, Upminster) account for only 6%. This is however consistent with the Havering age structure where the latter wards have fewer working age persons as compared to the former. Gooshays and Heaton are also among the most deprived wards in the borough. There were 6,700 (4.3% of age16-64) people in Havering on Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and Incapacity benefits in December 2016. This was lower than the London (4.8%) and England (5.8%) average. Among wards Gooshays (795, 8.4%), Heaton (635, 8.4%) and Romford Town (485, 4.6%) had the highest number of claimants of ESA. 1 http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160106225424/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide- method/classifications/current-standard-classifications/soc2010/soc2010-volume-1-structure-and- descriptions-of-unit-groups/index.html# 2 https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/1946157270/report.aspx?c1=2013265927&c2=20929576 99 3 Funds paid by the state to unemployed workers who have lost their jobs due to layoffs or retrenchment. Unemployment compensation is meant to provide a source of income for jobless workers until they can find employment. 1 HAVERING J S N A Emerson Park (160, 2.2%), Cranham (155, 2%) and Upminster (150, 1.8%) had the lowest number of claimants. The three wards with the highest number of claimants account for approximately a third (30%) of all cases whereas the lowest three) account for only 7%. This is however consistent with the Havering age structure where the latter wards have fewer working age persons as compared to the former. Gooshays and Heaton are also among the most deprived wards in the borough. Gooshays, Havering Park and Heaton, Brooklands and South Hornchurch are the most income deprived wards in Havering. Children living in these areas are therefore at a greater risk of child poverty as compared to other wards in the borough. The Havering council currently implements or signposts individuals to various programmes that address issues related to unemployment and low household income. However there is a lack of coordination of support to individuals who are often recycled through similar provisions and are also likely to be supported by several departments within the Council. There is a need for an integrated advice service that has skilled front line staff able to cross refer and provide appropriate support for clients. The implementation of the fully integrated Havering Employment and Skills plan expected to commence this year (2018) with all its’ elements would address most of the identified issues and improve the life chances of children and residents in general. 3.1.1 Background There are strong links between individual and household employment patterns and low income and poverty. 4 Working-age adults and children in working families are much less likely to be in relative low income/poverty than those in families where no- one is in work. 5 6 In 2016/17, 10% of working-age adults in working families in the UK were in relative low income poverty (Before Housing Costs - BHC) compared to 38% in workless families, while 15% of children in working families were in relative 7 low income/poverty (BHC) compared to 50% in workless families. 4 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/28 5389/Cm_8781_Child_Poverty_Evidence_Review_Print.pdf 5 https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/uk-poverty-2017 6 https://www.jrf.org.uk/sites/default/files/jrf/migrated/files/poverty-employment-lowpay-summary.pdf 7 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69 1917/households-below-average-income-1994-1995-2016-2017.pdf 2 HAVERING J S N A 3.1.2 Prevalence Unemployment and related income claimants Havering has a higher percentage of persons in employment (80% of persons aged 16-64) as compared to London (74%) and England (75%). However, only 43% are within the upper social class (manager, professional and associate professional) 8 as compared to 55% in London and 46% in England. This is also reflected in qualifications where only 47% have NVQ3 and above compared to 66% in London and 57% in England. 9 There were 2,620 (age 16-64) unemployment related benefits claimants in Havering as of February 2018. This was a slightly lower percentage (1.7%) as compared to London (2.1%) and England (2%). 10 Among wards, Gooshays (350, 3.3%), Heaton (240, 2.8%) and Romford Town (225, 1.9%) have the highest number of unemployment related benefits claimants while Upminster (40, 0.5%) has the lowest (Figure 13). The three wards with the highest number of claimants account for approximately a third (32%) of all cases whereas the lowest three (Cranham, Emerson Park, Upminster) account for only 6%. This is however consistent with the Havering age structure where the latter wards have fewer working age persons as compared to the former. Gooshays and Heaton are also among the most deprived wards in the borough. 8 http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160106225424/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide- method/classifications/current-standard-classifications/soc2010/soc2010-volume-1-structure-and- descriptions-of-unit-groups/index.html# 9 https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/1946157270/report.aspx?town=havering 10 https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/1946157270/report.aspx?c1=2013265927&c2=20929576 99 3 HAVERING J S N A Figure 13: All unemployment related benefit claimants, ages 16-64 (July 2017). Source: www.nomisweb.co.uk There were 500 (2.5%) young people (age 16-24) on unemployment related benefits in Havering as of February 2018. This was a similar percentage to London but lower than the England average (2.9%). Among wards, Gooshays (65) and Heaton (50) had the highest number of unemployment related benefit claimants aged 16-24 whereas Emerson Park, Hylands, Pettits, St. Andrew’s and Upminster had the lowest (10 each). This is also consistent with the Havering age structure where Gooshays and Heaton have a relatively higher population of persons aged 16-24 and are among the most deprived wards in the borough (Figure 14). 4 HAVERING J S N A Figure 14: All unemployment related benefit claimants aged 16-24 (July 2017) Source: www.nomisweb.co.uk Employment and Support Allowance There were 6,700 (4.3% of age16-64) people in Havering on Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and Incapacity benefits as of December 2016. This was lower than the London (4.8%) and England (5.8%) average. Among wards Gooshays (795, 8.4%), Heaton (635, 8.4%) and Romford Town (485, 4.6%) had the highest number of claimants of ESA 11 . Emerson Park (170), Cranham (155) and Upminster (145) had the lowest number of claimants. 11 Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is the UK welfare benefit designed to give financial support to people having difficulty finding a job because of a long-term illness or disability and then help them back to work despite their disability. 5 HAVERING J S N A The three wards with the highest number of claimants account for approximately a third (30%) of all cases whereas the lowest three account for only 7% (Figure 15). This is however consistent with the Havering age structure where the latter wards have fewer working age persons as compared to the former. Gooshays and Heaton are also among the most deprived wards in the borough. Figure 15: Number of Havering residents on Employment and Support Allowance, ages16- 64, February 2017. Source: www.nomisweb.co.uk There were 360 (1.3% of young people aged 16-24) on ESA benefits in Havering as of February 2017. This was higher than the London average (1.1%) but lower than the England average (1.7%). Among wards, Gooshays (70), Brooklands (40), Heaton (40) and Romford Town (40) had the highest number of claimants of ESA aged 16-24 years while Cranham (15) and Upminster (10) had the lowest (Figure 16). The highest four wards account for more than a third (37%) of all claimants. This is also consistent with the Havering 6 HAVERING J S N A age structure where the four wards have a relatively higher population of persons aged 16-24 and are among the most deprived wards in the borough. Figure 16: Number of Havering residents aged 16-24 on employment and support allowance, February 2017 Source: www.nomisweb.co.uk Deprivation Children in households that depend on means-tested benefits as the main source of income are most likely to be living in poverty.