Ministers are launching a consultation to find what it says is a better definition of child poverty.
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith will say in a speech that simply focusing on income levels is too narrow and other factors should be considered.
Recent figures showed fewer children in poverty - but largely because falling wages have narrowed the gap between the poorest and average earners.
Labour has accused the government of "wiping out" progress on child poverty.
"If ministers move an inch from the Child Poverty Act they supported in opposition, we will know they are - whilst giving an enormous tax cut to the richest in society," said shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne.
'No different'A child is considered to be living in poverty if their household income is less than 60% of averages wages.
Last year that figure equated to £251 per week, which meant 2.3 million children were living in poverty.
End Quote Iain Duncan Smith Work and pensions secretaryMeasuring income alone does little to represent the experience of those in poverty"
That was 300,000 fewer children than the year before - but the reduction was due to average incomes falling rather than poorer families becoming better off.
Mr Duncan Smith will say that life is unchanged for these children and a broader definition of child poverty is needed.
This would be one that looks at joblessness, educational failure and family breakdown as well as income.
Mr Duncan Smith is expected to say: "Across the UK, there are children living in circumstances that simply cannot be captured by assessing whether their household has more or less than 60% of the average income.
"There are many factors that impact on a child's wellbeing and ability to succeed in life... and measuring income alone does little to represent the experience of those in poverty.
"As we saw earlier this year - when the child poverty level dropped by 2% - a fall in the median income may lift a family out of poverty on paper.
"Yet at a closer look, real incomes did not rise and absolute poverty was unchanged. For the 300,000 children no longer in poverty according to the official statistics, life was no different."
Held to accountBut Chris Wellings, from Save the Children, said any new method of assessing child poverty must not be too broad to gauge progress or lack of it on the problem.
"The previous measure was very sharp, it allowed us to hold the government to account," he said.
"Any new measure needs to retain income and needs to retain an ability for us to really hold the government to account for their action on child poverty."
The Child Poverty Action Group said almost two-thirds of children living in poverty were in households where someone was in employment.
Building more affordable homes and reducing childcare costs were the keys to reducing child poverty, the charity added.
Mr Duncan Smith will launch the consultation at the Clyde Children's Centre in Deptford, south-east London.
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