Quarter of children in county now live below the breadline
Cuts to benefits and rising costs has left a quarter of children in Kent living in poverty.
Figures released by The End Child Poverty coalition show the level of deprivation is getting worse, with thousands at risk of being made homeless.
Almost 95,000 youngsters are growing up in families in receipt of out-of-work benefits or in-work tax credits where their reported income is less than 60% of the average wage.
The worst-affected area in the county is South Thanet, where 33.6% of children are classed as living below the breadline.
The area with the least is Tonbridge and Malling, where 17.33% of young people, 3,975, are part of low-income families.
Campaigners are now calling on the government to use the upcoming Autumn Statement to end the freeze on child benefits and reverse sharp cuts to in-work benefits.
There are fears the harsher rules could lead to more families being made homeless and forced to move away from their children’s friends and schools.
From this week, the total amount of benefits a household can receive was cut from £26,000 to £20,000, which will leave some families up to £115 worse off a week.
Sam Royston, chairman of End Child Poverty, which is a collection of charities, faith groups and unions, claims families are already struggling to manage.
He said: “In every community there are children being denied happy childhoods and good starts in life that other children are taking for granted. Our children are now twice as likely to be as poor as our pensioners.
“Many families who are just about managing today won’t be tomorrow, as rising costs means their money doesn’t stretch as far as it used to.”
Across Kent, 25% of children are living in poverty, above the regional average of 21%.
Nationally, there are an estimated three-and-a-half million cases, with rates highest in cities such as London, Birmingham and Manchester.