Our vision is of ... no gap between rich and poor

The high levels of poverty and exclusion experienced by some people, families and communities in Northern Ireland are unacceptable and have a negative impact on almost all aspects of life here. Voluntary and community organisations want to see a reduction in the gap between rich and poor people in Northern Ireland because it is socially just, and because research has shown that the most cohesive regions in Europe are also the most successful.

Around 220,000 people were in receipt of an out-of-work benefit in February 2010. Of these, 130,000 (ie more than half) were sick or disabled, 50,000 were unemployed, and 25,000 were lone parents. Until 2008, numbers had been falling slowly, but steadily, from 210,000 in February 2007 to 185,000 in February 2008. 

Much of the decrease was in unemployed claimants, the numbers of whom halved over the period, to 20,000. Between February 2008 and February 2010, however, numbers rose sharply, from 185,000 to 220,000. The number of unemployed claimants is now greater than at any point in the previous decade.

The February 2011 Labour Force Survey found that the total number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Northern Ireland was  59,100 - a rise of 300 on the previous month. It was the largest increase among the 12 UK regions. The were 3,500 or 6.3% on the February 2010 figures.  The survey also suggests there were 1,880 fewer jobs available over the quarter.

Almost half of people in lone parent families are on low income. This is two and a half times the rate for families with two parents. Children are more likely to live in low income households than adults. The proportion of pensioners in low income households is higher in Northern Ireland than anywhere else in the UK, excluding London. Two fifths of single pensioners and one fifth of pensioner couples have no income outside the state retirement pension and other benefits – this is much higher than anywhere else in the UK.

Men living in affluent areas can expect to live up to ten years longer than their peers in poorer areas. There is a marked difference in the rate of infant mortality with the rate in the most deprived fifth of areas (7 per 1,000 live births) being one third higher than the rate elsewhere (5 per 1,000 live births). In the most deprived areas around six girls in every 1,000 aged 13 to 16 give birth. In other areas, by contrast, just two girls in every 1,000 aged 13 to 16  give birth.

Due to the need to budget for every last penny of income, the inability to save, and restricted access to favourable payment terms for credit or loans, the poorest people and families pay more for basic goods and services. This so called ‘poverty premium’ can equate to £1,280 per annum. Insurance is an unaffordable luxury for many people on low incomes and getting into debt is often the only way to cope with unexpected household emergencies.

In order to realise our vision of a Northern Ireland where the gap between the rich and the poor is eliminated politicians and political parties should:

• Support a Northern Ireland wide benefit uptake campaign to ensure that all citizens maximise their income and entitlements. Ensure Northern Ireland is served by a strong and comprehensive network of advice centres offering a range of services, including debt advice.
• Actively explore ways in which devolution can really work for the people of Northern Ireland by offsetting the impacts of welfare reform and cuts to public expenditure. Government should consult on the Social Investment Fund and Social Protection Fund in OFMdFM and the Jobs Creation Fund in DETI as a matter of urgency. These funds should be seen as the beginning of a comprehensive Executive led initiative to ensure that Welfare Reform and cuts in expenditure do not plunge Northern Ireland even further into poverty, social exclusion and division.
• Lifetime Opportunities, the anti-poverty strategy, should be revised and reinvigorated to reflect the new challenges facing the NI Executive and Assembly. The membership and workings of all associated advisory bodies should be revisited in order to make them more effective, focused and outcome driven.
• Support a range of actions to tackle the poverty premium. People and families should have access to social tariffs and other schemes to tackle fuel poverty. Government should work alongside credit unions and other financial institutions to encourage access to affordable credit. Schemes to provide affordable and low cost insurance should be explored to offer a safety net for unexpected household emergencies.