The cost of a decent standard of living

The minimum income a single person needs to afford a basic but acceptable standard of living is now estimated at £13,900 a year before tax, or £220.33 a week. A couple with two children need to earn a minimum of £27,600 (£460.13 a week).

Social research organisation the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has updated its Minimum Income Standard (MIS), first released in 2008, based on research with members of the public. It shows the minimum household budget has risen by around 5% in 2009, considerably above current measures of inflation. This takes into account the fact that those on low pay spend a greater proportion of their income on food, domestic fuel and transport than higher earners. The MIS does not include costs of a mortgage or running a car.

Minimum income was also given for a lone parent with one child (£426.59 a week), and for a pensioner couple (£277.87 a week). A minimum income standard for Britain in 2009 can be downloaded free from www.jrf.org.uk