What is Poverty?
Poverty is when a household income (adjusted for the size and make-up of the household) is less than 60% of the UK average income.
It is recognised that poverty is much more than just low income.
The Government also uses a measure to assess Fuel Poverty, based not only on income but also on fuel prices and the Energy Efficiency of homes.
The factors that generate poverty are wide-ranging and include many day-to-day things in life such as health, housing, educational attainment, employability and access to services.
The Scottish Government believes that there needs to be a fundamental rethink about how tackling poverty, inequality and deprivation are viewed.
Advances in tackling poverty have been made and need to be build upon - learning from those aspects that were less successful.
Delivery of a more meaningful and attainable set of outcomes are needed for those individuals, families and communities across Scotland who experience poverty, inequality and deprivation.
Also needed is additional support to overcome structural and institutional barriers that prevent people from escaping and staying out of poverty.