Our publications

Below are some of our recent publications, to see more please select a specific year.

Older publications

A Minimum Income Standard for the United Kingdom in 2026 This latest update to the Minimum Income Standard (MIS) sets out what members of the UK public think is needed for a minimum socially acceptable standard of living for working-age adults, families with children and pensioners. The 2026 findings show the impact of rising housing costs on household budgets and income adequacy. For the first time, MIS budgets assume that all household types rent privately, reflecting public views that access to social housing can no longer be reasonably expected. The report examines what this means for the incomes required to meet minimum needs and for households relying on wages, benefits and pensions.

Retirement Living Standards in the UK: 2025 update The latest report in the Retirement Living Standards (RLS) annual series, sets out what is needed for a minimum, moderate and comfortable standard of living in retirement in 2025. It reviews the impact of updating all RLS through changes in prices, as captured through changes in the Consumer Prices Index between April 2024 and April 2025. It also highlights the potential impact of housing costs on what is needed to reach each of the RLS. Where retired households do face ongoing, direct housing costs – such as rent or mortgage payments – throughout retirement, this has a dramatic impact on both the adequacy of existing incomes and on the amount that households might need over the whole period of retirement. Padley, M. and Ellis, W. (2026) Retirement Living Standards in the UK: 2025 update. London: Pensions UK

Retirement Living Standards in the UK: 2024 update This short update report provides detail on the key budget areas that make up the Retirement Living Standards (RLS), setting out what is needed in 2024 at a minimum, moderate and comfortable standard of living. It reviews the impact of updating the moderate and comfortable RLS through changes in prices captured through the Consumer Prices Index between April 2023 and April 2024. It also sets out the key changes in the minimum retirement living standard resulting from new Minimum Income Standard (MIS) research on what is needed for a minimum socially acceptable standard of living published in 2024. Padley, M., Ellis, W. and Balchin, E. (2025) Retirement Living Standards in the UK; 2024 update. London: Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association

The Cost of a Child in Scotland 2025 CPAG’s annual Cost of a Child report looks at how much it costs families to provide a minimum socially acceptable standard of living for their children. It is calculated using the Minimum Income Standard (MIS) research, carried out by the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The cost of a child in Scotland 2025 (2025) Edinburgh: Child Poverty Action Group Scotland

Characteristics and population estimates of unpaid end of life carers: An observational study Gardiner, C, Juet, A, Webb, EJD, Stone, J (2025) Characteristics and population estimates of unpaid end of life carers: An observational study, Palliative Medicine, 39(10), pp.1091-1098, ISSN: 0269-2163. DOI: 10.1177/02692163251366090.