Northern Ireland Benefits Statistics Summary at August 2016 published

Date published: 30 November 2016

Unless stated otherwise, the figures are at August 2016. Key findings include:

• As at August, the number of Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants was 34,620. This represents a decrease of 6,550 on a year earlier.
• The number of Employment and Support Allowance claimants was 123,500 and the number of Employment and Support Allowance recipients was 117,850. This represents an increase in claimants of 4,600 on a year earlier.
• The number of Incapacity Benefit claimants was 2,290 and the number of Incapacity Benefit recipients was 10.
• The number of Severe Disablement Allowance claimants was 1,460 and the number of Severe Disablement Allowance recipients was 1,420.
• There were 38,860 claimants of Income Support. This represents a fall of 300 since August 2015.
• There were 254,290 people of working age claiming a key benefit. This has fallen by 890 from a year earlier.
• The number of State Pension claimants was 308,050, an increase of 1,250 on a year earlier.
• There were 79,620 claimants and 96,960 beneficiaries of Pension Credit. Claimants have fallen by 4,400 since August 2015, mainly as a result of an increase in the age of entitlement and increases in State Pension amounts.
• There were 312,640 people over state pension age claiming a key benefit, an increase of 1,210 since August 2015.
• The number of Disability Living Allowance recipients was 214,260. This has risen by 7,280 since August 2015.
• The number of Attendance Allowance recipients was 51,520, representing a fall of 840 on a year earlier.
• The number of Carer’s Allowance claimants was 72,150. This represents an increase of 2,280 since August 2015.