No longer an luxury
While it's unlikely that any HEXUS readers have thought otherwise for years, the news that a PC and a connection to the Internet are now considered essential components of a minimum standard of living in the UK marks a significant milestone.
This conclusion comes within the annual study by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation into what members of the public think they need to achieve a minimum socially acceptable standard of living. In order to achieve the minimum, a single person needs to earn £14,400 per year and a couple with two children £29,200, and wages are not catching up.
One of the new commodities now considered essential by all people bar pensioners is access to the Internet. Just two years ago, only families with school-aged children designated getting online as essential.
Julia Unwin, chief executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: "This research shows what ordinary members of the public think is needed, not just to survive, but to take part in society. It provides powerful evidence for the new government to use as they develop policies to deal with poverty. If they are serious about protecting people in poverty, then clear, in-depth assessments of the cutbacks and their impact will need to be set out, along with realistic long-term plans for meeting their goals."
Here's a table summarising the findings. You can calculate what the minimum income is for your demographic here.
