Poverty in Scotland is gendered. Women are more likely to be living in poverty and find it harder to escape poverty Women’s poverty is

Women are more likely to be living in poverty and find it harder to escape poverty.1 Women’s poverty is caused, and sustained, by a range of factors including women continuing to have lower levels of savings and wealth than men; being more likely to be in low-paid and part-time work; and facing barriers to increasing their working hours and earnings as a result of their caring responsibilities and. [...] Prior to the outbreak of Covid-19 and the impact of the cost of living crisis, analysis by the UK Women’s Budget Group found that women were more likely to be in debt and 61% of those getting into debt to purchase everyday necessities were women.4 Women’s experience of problem debt may therefore be exacerbated by the ongoing crisis. [...] Sue, a white single mother aged 45-54, who has long-term health issues stated that “Tackling the problems in life is a bit like reading a chapter in a book of one’s life and because it was a difficult and emotional chapter to read, you become apprehensive to turn the page for the next new chapter! At the same time, you want to continue to read on and see if the book has a happy ending…” 3 The Pove. [...] “By the time I get my son away to school, by the time I travel to a place to learn or train by public transport- by the time you find a class that works for those times you have to get home for the school run.” – Citizen’s panel member The Scottish Government should: • Increase the financial support available to undertake upskilling and reskilling support, including increasing the value of Individ. [...] Alongside Fife Gingerbread, the Poverty Alliance published research into the Child Maintenance Service.11 This research analyses whether changes in the system following the end of the Child Support Agency (CSA) have improved the ability of child maintenance to support to families across Scotland, and provides insights into experiences of child maintenance during the cost of living crisis.