The poorest 30% are raising over half of Hungary’s children

According to a study, living conditions for the poorest families in Hungary have worsened in multiple regions of the country.

After years of improvement, the quality of life for the poorest Hungarian families and their children has started to decline once again based on a study by an NGO which aims to support children living in poverty (GYERE). As reported by nepszava.hu, between 2014 and 2017 researchers investigated children’s living conditions and the quality of the institutional support they have available.

The government passed a programme called “Better for children” programme in 2007, which aimed to improve the upbringing of children between 2007 and 2032. However, the then-new Fidesz government withdrew state support in 2010, meaning the scheme continues to operate, but relies on private funding.

Based on the latest data, living conditions were not improved by the rise in benefits and minimum wage as family-orientated funding – such as child care financial support – did not increase.  Their situation was exacerbated by the government’s introduction of taxes to the lowest income bracket.

Between 2007 and 2017, the number of families and their children earning 40% of the country’s median – in essence families living in the lowest income bracket – has increased by 3%. Indeed, 18.5% of children living in Hungary are in this category, which is double the EU average.

More than half of the 10% poorest Hungarians’ income comes from governmental financial support, and their net income stayed below €100. According to 2017 figures, 125,000 children are brought up in households with unemployed parents and carers. Indeed, the study states that Hungary’s poorest 30% are raising over half of the country’s children.