Townsend has developed poverty relative to the kind of society we live in in that poverty can be assessed in terms of the customs and standards of a previous era. People are in poverty when they lack the resources to obtain the type of diet, participate in the activities and have the living conditions and amenities which are customary, or at least widely encouraged or approved in the society in which they belong (Townsend 1979 in Blackburn1991). Here poverty is concerned with social needs as well as physical needs. Poverty is generally understood to be the level at which deprivation is inevitable. In Townsend's study of poverty in Britain in 1960s he calculated that in order to avoid relative poverty a certain income level was needed. It is possible to define income levels that are sufficient to enable people to live in varying degrees of discomfort and to indicate a level of income that permits social participation's (Townsend 1979 in Ackers & Abbott 1996). The most common way to measure poverty is by household income. .
There is no official poverty line in the U.K., but where we draw the line depends on what we view as a minimum level of income and standard of living for family and individuals. Poverty in most British studies has been defined as anyone with an income on or below the level of income supplement (100% benefit) is defined as living in poverty. Anyone with an income of 100%-140% of income support is defined as on the margins of poverty. Surveys have shown that the majority of people regard the poor as being responsible for their own poverty and are suspicious of those who live for free on government handouts. Many people believe that those on welfare could find work if they were determined to. These views are out of line with the reality of poverty whose numbers are made up of the over 65s, under 14s, ill and disabled the low paid and single parents. Income is a key resource for families and the ones with low incomes are least able to afford or have access to good housing, generally live in poor areas with no play facilities for children and have poor access to health, education and leisure services.