IT IS perplexing that Matthew Laverack (Letters, January 22) does not appear to understand the concept of relative poverty, most recently explained to him in these pages on January 7.

For clarification, it refers to people whose income and resources are so low they are excluded from ordinary living patterns. Often multiple levels of deprivation mean people in relative poverty are socially excluded.

So to answer Mr Laverack’s question, someone who smoked 40 cigs a day (£104 per week), six cans of lager (£28 per week), a widescreen TV (available at £11 per week), junk food takeaways (let’s say three or four a week, so perhaps £20 per week) would need a weekly income of £163.

It seems that anyone on Jobseekers Allowance of £71 per week (or £56 if you are under 25) is therefore going to struggle to maintain such a lifestyle.

Instead, it is more likely they will spend the minimal benefit on other “luxuries” such as water rates, council tax, insurance, bus fares, electricity and gas, telephone costs, toilet roll, washing liquid and other toiletries.

And that’s before they clothe themselves or top up the rent (Housing Benefit does not cover private rents in York)

Richard Bridge Holgate Road, York.