Families earning €40,000 a year fall into poverty trap

FAMILIES with an income of up to €40,000 a year are now among the new poor, according to the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

Middle income families, many on two salaries, are reaching out for help in huge numbers, according to agencies dealing with poverty.

More than a third of new clients contacting the Money Advice and Budgets Service (MABS) are from households with incomes ranging between €30,000 and €40,000.