New research has found that the cost of raising a child for a couple is £166,000, and for a lone parent, it’s £220,000.
The COVID pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, and benefit cuts have left the average working family (two parents working full-time, having two children, and earning the living wage) £51 per week short of what the researchers call a ‘decent standard of living.’
For families where one parent works full-time and the other works part-time, this is £89 per week.
The gap is £125 per week for a full-time working lone parent; for lone parents working part-time, it is £161.