North West Poverty Monitor 2024: Social security and debt
Social security data shows us how many people in an area are in receipt of certain benefits. Looking at this data at a local level gives a strong indication of the prevalence of low income, while looking at the number of claimants by benefit type can illustrate the type of households that may be struggling financially and the type of support they need.
Additionally on this page we look at debt. Debt plays a crucial role in determining the nature of poverty and the experience of people on low incomes. Debt can compound poverty and eat into already limited resources.
Percentage of children affected by the two-child limit by constituency
This map shows the percentage of children affected by the two-child limit on benefits in 2023.
This policy limits certain benefits to the first two children in a family.
Hover over the parliamentary constituency you are interested in to see the percentage of children impacted by the two-child limit.
Number of people in receipt of Council Tax Support by local authority
These bar charts show a snapshot of the number of claimants in need of council tax support in each local authority in 2024.
You can hover your cursor over each bar to see the estimated number of claimants in each local authority who have received council tax support.
Unemployment benefit claimant rate by constituency
This map depicts the percentage of unemployment benefit claimants aged 16-64 by local authority across the North West in 2024.
Select a local authority on the map to view the percentage with each area. The gradient shows the dispersion of claimants within the North West region.
Pension Credit caseload by local authority
This map displays the total number of pension credit claimants by North West local authority in 2023.
Hover the cursor over an area to see the total number of pension credit cases within the local authority.
Individual insolvencies by local authority
This map shows the number of individual insolvencies by North West local authority in 2023. This depicts the number of individuals facing debt collection they cannot pay.
Hover over an area to see the number of insolvencies in a local authority.Â
Number of debt relief orders by local authority
Debt relief orders are a means of supporting people deal with personal debts that they cannot pay. You can read more about debt relief orders here.
This map shows the number of debt relief orders issued in each North West local authority in 2023.
Number of individual voluntary arrangements by local authority
An Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) is a legally binding agreement between a debtor and their creditors to repay debts over time. It’s a formal alternative to bankruptcy. You can read more about IVAs here.
This map shows the number of IVAs made in each North West local authority in 2023.
Proportion of people seeking debt advice by local authority
The bar chart depicts the number of individuals seeking debt advice within each North West local authority in 2022. These figures can be used as guidance for the prolific debt found in the North West.
Move your cursor over each bar to see the percentage of people seeking debt advice.Â
Is your organisation based in Greater Manchester? Do you directly help people living in poverty? Use our Money Advice Referral Tool to refer people to the right support and advice.