Northern Ireland Benefits Statistics Summary at May 2015 is published

Date published: 26 August 2015

Key findings include:

• The number of Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants was 41,150. This represents a decrease of 10,640 since May 2014
• The number of Employment and Support Allowance claimants was 118,140 and the number of Employment and Support Allowance recipients was 113,670. This represents an increase in claimants of 14,280 on a year earlier. Some of this is as a result of the migration of cases from Severe Disability Allowance and Incapacity Benefit
• The number of Incapacity Benefit claimants was 3,040 and the number of Incapacity Benefit recipients was 50
• The number of Severe Disablement Allowance claimants was 1,690 and the number of Severe Disablement Allowance recipients was 1,630
• There were 39,020 claimants of Income Support. This represents a fall of 5,030 since May 2014, mainly as a result of most claimants who were claiming on the grounds of incapacity moving to Employment and Support Allowance
• There were 254,080 people of working age claiming a key benefit. This has fallen by 2,550 on a year earlier
• The number of State Pension claimants was 306,370 an increase of 1,700 on a year earlier
• There were 84,730 claimants and 103,830 beneficiaries of Pension Credit. Claimants have fallen by 4,130 since May 2014, mainly as a result of an increase in the age of entitlement and increases in State Pension amounts
• There were 310,950 people over state pension age claiming a key benefit, an increase of 1,190 since May 2014
• The number of Disability Living Allowance recipients was 205,610. This has risen by 7,300 since May 2014
• The number of Attendance Allowance recipients was 52,580 representing a fall of 630 on a year earlier
• The number of Carer’s Allowance claimants was 69,170. This represents an increase of 3,300 since May 2014