Northern Ireland Benefits Statistics Summary at February 2017 is published

Date published: 31 May 2017

Unless stated otherwise, the figures are at February 2017. Key findings include:

• As at February, the number of Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants was 31,930. This represents a decrease of 6,430 on a year earlier.
• The number of Employment and Support Allowance claimants was 126,660 and the number of Employment and Support Allowance recipients was 118,600. This represents an increase in claimants of 6,040 on a year earlier.
• The number of Incapacity Benefit claimants was 2,090 and there were no recipients of Incapacity Benefit.
• The number of Severe Disablement Allowance claimants was 1,390 and the number of Severe Disablement Allowance recipients was 1,360.
• There were 37,800 claimants of Income Support. This represents a fall of 940 since February 2016.
• There were 251,540 people of working age claiming a key benefit. This has fallen by 2,730 from a year earlier.
• The number of State Pension claimants was 306,950, a decrease of 200 on a year earlier.
• There were 77,030 claimants and 93,690 beneficiaries of Pension Credit. Claimants have fallen by 5,240 since February 2016, mainly as a result of an increase in the age of entitlement and increases in State Pension amounts.
• There were 311,880 people over state pension age claiming a key benefit, a decrease of 170 since February 2016.
• The number of Disability Living Allowance recipients was 209,890. This has fallen by 370 since February 2016.
• The number of Attendance Allowance recipients was 51,130, representing a fall of 350 on a year earlier.
• The number of Carer’s Allowance claimants was 73,020. This represents an increase of 2,740 since February 2016