Using poverty as an indicator of societal and economic advancement is common. In the UK, there has been a rise in the number of people facing poverty (Mantle and Backwith, 2010; Parekh, MacInnes and Kenway, 2010). Hunger, homelessness, and extreme living conditions with a severe shortage of basic necessities are frequently associated with poverty in public and media discourse. Moreover, it is often depicted as predominantly prevalent in less developed countries.
The perception of poverty by viewers is heavily influenced by their political and ideological opinions. Research indicates an ongoing debate regarding the definition and measurement of “poverty.” In social policy literature, two commonly used measurements are absolute poverty (referring to a lack of basic necessities) and relative poverty (indicating a lack of resources or income compared to others within a country) (Cunningham and Cunningham, 2008). This essay does not focus on the argument over which measurement is most valid or how these measurements are calculated. However, it seems that discussions on poverty measurement tend to prioritize “relative poverty” and associate it with the belief in the necessity of welfare for all individuals at some point in their lives (Denney, 1998).
In his pursuit of understanding poverty, Townsend (1962) suggests that poverty is not a fixed concept but rather a fluid one. He argues against poverty being an absolute condition and instead labels it as relative deprivation. The main idea conveyed is that as society continues to progress, new demands arise for the increasing population, leading to changes in the criteria for measuring poverty over time.
According to Townsend (1962), poverty is defined as having fewer resources than the average person or family in a community. It can result from various factors including insufficient income and resources for a sustainable life, limited access to education, employment, and healthcare, as well as exclusion from decision-making processes.
This essay aims to emphasize the significance of understanding poverty and creating equitable conditions in social policy. It seeks to educate social workers on meeting the needs of service users, as contemporary literature confirms that poverty impacts not only individuals but also families, households, and entire communities. This goes beyond economic struggles and arises from a deprivation of essential necessities like education, healthcare, housing, employment, etc., which are vital for a healthy lifestyle.
Dowling (1999) states that poverty is not solely defined by lack of income, but also by limited choices and opportunities. Understanding the various social issues related to poverty and their connection to social work is crucial. Research indicates that gender plays a significant role in experiencing poverty, with men and women facing different forms of impoverishment due to disparities in employment prospects and family responsibilities. Recognizing these gender divisions is essential in the field of social work, as policies should address issues affecting women. Traditional welfare models often prioritize men as primary earners while relegating women’s income to a secondary position (Denney, 1998). Therefore, it is important for social work practitioners addressing poverty to consider societal values regarding family and how they influence policy decisions.
Research has found that children from low-income households are at a higher risk of facing multiple difficulties and experiencing less positive developmental outcomes in comparison to their more affluent counterparts. Among these challenges, inadequate nutrition is particularly prevalent due to the association with poverty. Insufficient nourishment can result in low birth weight, an important factor in infant well-being that also serves as an indicator for future behavioral issues and academic struggles (Duncan and Brooks-Gunn, 2000).
There is a link between children being at risk and them entering the foster care system from a social work perspective. Similarly, poverty is connected to income, as families with limited financial resources may have difficulty meeting their children’s needs. Insufficient income has the potential to impact the overall quality of a child’s home environment, leading to conflicts between children (including teenagers) and their parents. Additionally, it can contribute to parental mental health problems, which in turn could hinder the child’s emotional, social, and cognitive development (Duncan and Brooks-Gunn, 2000).
According to Duncan and Brooks-Gunn (2000), it is important to prevent the negative effects of long-term or ongoing poverty in early childhood in order to promote healthy cognitive development in children. The literature suggests that a child is considered to be living in poverty if they experience deprivation, such as having low income, and/or grow up experiencing persistent poverty. Research also shows that poverty has significant implications for individuals who rely on social services; however, what is even more crucial is the potential impact of social policy in perpetuating poverty (Price, 2006 and Foster, 2011).
There is a continuing discussion regarding the effects of welfare benefits, tax credits, and employment policies on poverty and disadvantaged groups during the recession. Foster (2011) states that pension policies have a significant impact on older individuals, causing them to rely on social services. Furthermore, poverty is linked to both unemployment and social isolation, which contribute to family breakdown (Cunningham and Cunningham, 2008).
Child poverty has been linked to economic factors, particularly the decision made in 1980 to raise benefits based on prices rather than earnings (Bradshaw, 2002). The current welfare reform bill proposed by the Coalition Government, which includes raising the income tax threshold and introducing Universal Credit, is expected to result in higher levels of child poverty and affect other vulnerable groups such as disability and lone-parent families.
According to Adams et al. (2009), poverty is connected to social policies in the areas of health, housing, and education. The authors suggest that a lack of money can result in homelessness and poor living conditions, which in turn lead to various health problems. Similarly, Dowling (1999) has identified government policies that have had negative impacts on individuals facing poverty, including restrictions on public spending and the introduction of regressive taxes such as the community charge and VAT on fuel. The absence of increasing benefits also contributes to these harmful effects.
Understanding how the state and social capital can deprive vulnerable groups is crucial (Foster, 2011). A way to begin this understanding is by considering the sociological explanation of poverty, which Cunningham and Cunningham (2008) classify into three categories: functionalist theories, individualistic explanations, and structural explanations.
Policy making is influenced by understanding poverty causes within different paradigms. Individualist theories, such as the cycle of deprivation and culture of poverty, are often endorsed by politicians and media to justify current policies. However, critics argue that individuals’ dependence on the welfare state impedes their capacity to enhance their own well-being.
According to Davis and Wainwright (2005), the understanding of how poverty affects service users is influenced by social workers’ practice values and the organization they work for. In their study, Strier and Binyamin (2010) present multiple theories on poverty. These theories include an individual theory suggesting that poverty occurs when individuals are unprepared or incapable of participating in market economies, cultural/behavioral theories viewing poverty as a collective problem, and structural theories seeing poverty as a result of multi-level oppression. These different theories contribute to the ongoing debate about what constitutes a “basic need” and reinforce the stereotype that those who are impoverished are responsible for their own situation. This bias against service users in need of social care assistance ignores current living standards and conditions, thus negatively impacting their well-being.
Dowling (1999) delves deeper into the question of whether or not the poor require social work, discovering a correlation between the poverty experienced by social service users and welfare policies that have altered the British system. These policies include income inequality, particularly affecting lone parent families, as well as the implementation of the 1989 community care legislation. This legislation led to the development of private homes for individuals with learning disabilities and mental health issues, driven by profit motives rather than a focus on social care.
Understanding important discussions and matters concerning poverty is crucial for social workers as it continues to affect the people they assist. Inequality also significantly impacts the lives of these individuals. Therefore, social workers must comprehend debates on how policy-makers influence responses to poverty and establish the framework that guides their efforts in addressing it. Given their ability to advocate for those experiencing poverty, social workers should utilize this power to support those in need.
It is essential to have knowledge and understanding of poverty in order to approach practice reflectively and critically (Adams, Dominelli and Payne, 2009). To fully comprehend poverty, it is also necessary to take into account marginalized groups who may experience exclusion due to different forms of inequality including gender, race, ethnic origins, age, disability, and religion. Literature and research provide convincing evidence that poverty is not a random event but rather a consequence of socio-economic policies and decisions regarding resource allocation and beneficiary selection.
According to Cunningham and Cunningham (2008), poverty leads to the marginalization of individuals in their own society, acting as a measure against which the rest of society compares themselves. Studies indicate that poverty creates various inequalities including differences in health, housing, and educational achievement (Davis and Wainwright, 2005). Additionally, poverty is linked to negative life experiences, compromised physical health, and mental health issues among children.
According to Adams, et al (2009), poverty and health are strongly interconnected. Individuals with poor health are more susceptible to poverty, while poverty can lead to ill health due to factors like inadequate housing or a substandard diet. Additionally, inadequate housing or a subpar diet is considered crucial for overall well-being and social exclusion in later life (Adams et al, 2009). Moreover, the lack of quality education resulting from poverty puts individuals at risk when it comes to making informed decisions about their health and disease prevention.
Price (2006) suggests that the relationship between poverty and poor health increases vulnerability in individuals at different life stages, especially in old age. It is proposed that older individuals are disproportionately impacted by ongoing poverty, and using means-testing to assess income security may be seen as discriminatory towards them. Furthermore, poverty greatly influences the requirements of clients, necessitating agreement on its characteristics and scope to create effective social policies for addressing it (Price 2006).
Welfare benefits are relied upon by most people and families affected by poverty to varying degrees. However, critics argue that the social care system designed to support them also increases the cost of services provided, thus perpetuating the poverty experienced by those utilizing social services (Davis and Wainwright, 2005). Efforts to address poverty should primarily focus on examining the process by which it is created and sustained. These efforts should also target other forms of oppression and discrimination faced by individuals in poverty, including racism, ableism, and ageism (Davis and Wainwright, 2005).
The issue of poverty remains central in discussions concerning the welfare reform bill and overall government social policies. Ongoing conversations center around achieving equitable distribution of resources and implementing initiatives to combat poverty. Various arguments suggest a need for a combination of resources, education, employment opportunities, and empowerment strategies for individuals living in poverty. Ultimately, the objective is ensuring equal access to services for all.
According to Mantle and Backwith (2010), social work should be focused on the community in order to address poverty. They argue that social workers should interact with impoverished communities, as this approach can foster community unity and social resources while also providing practical support to individuals. For individuals and families in poverty, empowerment is crucial, which can be achieved through accessible education and employment opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge, ultimately improving their quality of life.
Thus, it is important for social conditions to adapt and guarantee equal access to resources, opportunities, and public services for everyone. This essay suggests that poverty-aware practice involves examining theories of poverty, using income-based measures and examining inequality and exclusion. Additionally, it involves understanding the factors that sustain, support, and increase poverty, whether influenced by the economy, political views, or social-cultural perspectives.
Developing a value-based approach is essential for social workers to effectively support service users impacted by poverty. In order to bring about change, social workers must have a comprehensive understanding of poverty. By doing so, they will be equipped with the necessary tools to promote opportunities and advocate for service users affected by poverty. The fundamental essence of social work entails direct involvement in alleviating poverty through providing direct support or referral services to service users.
According to Davis and Wainwright (2005), the question at hand is whether there exists a comprehension of the meaning, roots, and development of poverty. They argue that social workers’ understanding of poverty is influenced by the value base they ascribe to their role, which involves addressing poverty, as well as the organizational framework in which they operate. Research conducted by Monnickendam et al (2010) revealed that perceptions of poverty are reflected in service policy. Consequently, social workers may encounter conflict as they attempt to reconcile their ideological beliefs with those of their employing agency, as noted by Cunningham and Cunningham (2008).
This could have substantial consequences in acknowledging and adequately assisting service users who are facing poverty, as well as mitigating poverty symptoms, which in turn could lead to insufficient support services being provided. Thus, social workers need to comprehend the structural, organizational, and personal effects of poverty on individuals who utilize social services (Davis and Wainwright, 2005).
Social workers should strive to promote equitable social and economic conditions, which involves challenging unjust policies and practices that impact society as a whole. This includes ensuring fair distribution of resources. To address the question mentioned in this essay, it is necessary to consider various perspectives on poverty, such as whether it pertains to inadequate access to essential resources for a healthy life, low income, inequality, and/or exclusion.
Both the primary sources of poverty and poverty itself can be seen as interconnected, whether as causes or consequences. For instance, low income leads to inequalities in accessing education and healthcare. These various dimensions of poverty, along with social policies, shape the practice of social work. They are integral to the organizational and structural frameworks that govern the provision of social care services.
The distribution and decision-making process of health, education, financial assistance, and other welfare provisions can be better understood by considering the social context. Monnickendam et al. (2010) noted that social workers might not always consider how macro-level social problems affect their clients. Therefore, in order to adequately address the needs of service users who are affected by poverty, it is crucial for social workers to have a comprehensive understanding of these key aspects within poverty.
Social Workers must uphold the human rights of individuals while adhering to core social work values. It is essential to treat service users with respect and dignity, regardless of their poverty status. To improve the welfare of service users, it is valuable to understand their position in society and how it relates to welfare and social policies (Adams et al., 2009; Bradshaw, 2002; Cunningham and Cunningham, 2008; Davis and Wainwright, 2005; Denney, 1998; Dowling, 1999; Duncan and Brooks-Gunn, 2000; Foster, 2011; Mantle and Backwith, 2010; Monnickendam et al.).In the study titled “Social Workers Serving Poor Clients: Perceptions of Poverty and Service Policy” by M. S. (2010), published in the British Journal of Social Work, the author examines the views of social workers regarding poverty and service policy for low-income clients. The paper is 40 pages long, with page numbers ranging from 911 to 927.
Price (2006) discusses the poverty of older people in the UK in the Journal of Social Work Practice. Rowlands (2002) examines the responses of women and men to poverty and globalization in the UK in Gender & Development. Strier and Binyamin (2010) propose a theoretical and organizational rationale for developing anti-oppressive services for the poor in the British Journal of Social Work. Townsend (1962) explores the meaning of poverty in The British Journal of Sociology.
