Below 60 per cent of 2010-11 absolute median net household income (AHC) and in working-age adult material deprivation

Field: Below 60 per cent of 2010-11 absolute median net household income (AHC) and in working-age adult material deprivation

Description

Below 60 per cent of 2010-11 absolute median net household income (AHC) and in working-age adult material deprivation, as reported by FRS respondents, where:

a working-age adult is an individual below State Pension age based upon their reported birth date and the timetable for the legislated increases in State Pension age and not a dependent child (see Type of Individual by Age Category for more information).
a working-age adult is considered to be below the threshold if they live in a family that has an equivalised net household income below 60 per cent of 2010-11 absolute median income, After Housing Costs (see 60 per cent of 2010-11 absolute median net household income (AHC) in latest prices for more information) and in working-age adult material deprivation (see below).

Material deprivation is a direct measure of poverty from the lack of items deemed to be necessary for a minimum acceptable standard of living. Further information can be found in the HBAI Quality and Methodology Information Report which accompanies the latest release.

Classification

Applicable to: Working-age adults.

Not in combined 2010/11 absolute low income and working-age adult material deprivation
In combined 2010/11 absolute low income and working-age adult material deprivation
Not applicable (individual is not a working-age adult).
Not available (before 2010/11).

Number of categories: 4

Quality Statement

Updated 2023/24 questions for material deprivation items for children, working-age adults and pensioners were introduced into the 2023/24 FRS and asked to 75% of households. The remaining 25% of households were asked the old questions (2010/11 questions for children and working-age adults and 2009/10 questions for pensioners). To provide responses and reasons for households asked the old questions for the updated measure, imputation included using responses and reasons where old questions were similar. Estimates using the old questions and old methodology and 2023/24 questions and updated methodology are not comparable. Further information can be found in the Technical report: update to measures using material deprivation for households below average income FYE 2024, which accompanies the release of the HBAI 2023/24 statistics.

Before 2023/24, a working-age adult was considered to be in working-age adult material deprivation if the final working-age adult material deprivation score is 25 or more. From 2023/24, an updated suite of questions and methodology was introduced. Using a simple count approach, a working-age adult is in material deprivation if they lack 5 or more items.

While 2020/21 data is not presented in the HBAI Stat-Xplore dataset, it is included in the experimental statistic Combined working age absolute low income and material deprivation estimates FYE 2011 to FYE 2021. Data relating to 2020/21 is not available in Stat Xplore due to data quality concerns affecting many of the HBAI estimates calculated below UK (headline) level for that year. Further details can be found in the technical report which accompanied the release of the 2020/21 statistics. This report details the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the size and composition of the FRS sample.

For the 2021/22 data, all estimates of material deprivation, including when combined with low income measures, are not strictly comparable with previous years. Several of the questions asked as part of the material deprivation measure were affected by government restrictions introduced in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Although the impact on survey responses was less marked than last year, restrictions remained in place throughout the first quarter of the survey year and the effect the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic had on social interactions continued to unwind during the remainder of the survey year as restrictions were removed and society began returning to normal. Changes in recorded material deprivation for 2021/22 may not fully reflect the real change in household circumstances compared to the pre-pandemic period. Further details can be found in the technical report which accompanies the release of the 2021/22 statistics.

All estimates of material deprivation for 2022/23 should only be directly compared with periods up to and including 2019/20. During 2020/21 (not included in this dataset) and 2021/22, several of the questions asked as part of the material deprivation measure were affected by government restrictions introduced in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Further details can be found in the technical report which accompanies the annual release of these statistics.

It is also not possible to directly compare levels of combined absolute low income and material deprivation for working age adults and children as both measures use different items.

Up to 2017/18, the material deprivation statistics include adults aged 64 and below. Since equalisation of State Pension Age, later estimates reflect working-age adults below State Pension Age. The State Pension age for both men and women was 66 throughout the financial year 2023 to 2024.

Further information can be found in the HBAI Quality and Methodology Report here.