Northern Ireland Benefits Statistics Summary at August 2015 is published

Date published: 25 November 2015

Unless stated otherwise, the figures are at August 2015. Key findings include:

• The number of Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants was 41,170. This represents a decrease of 9,040 since August 2014
• The number of Employment and Support Allowance claimants was 118,900 and the number of Employment and Support Allowance recipients was 113,870. This represents an increase in claimants of 7,230 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 2,820 and the number of Incapacity Benefit recipients was 40
• The number of Severe Disablement Allowance claimants was 1,640 and the number of Severe Disablement Allowance recipients was 1,590
• There were 39,160 claimants of Income Support. This represents a fall of 970 since August 2014, mainly as a result of claimants who were claiming on the grounds of incapacity moving to Employment and Support Allowance
• There were 255,180 people of working age claiming a key benefit. This has fallen by 2,300 from a year earlier
• The number of State Pension claimants was 306,800 an increase of 950 on a year earlier
• There were 84,020 claimants and 102,910 beneficiaries of Pension Credit. Claimants have fallen by 4,360 since August 2014, mainly as a result of an increase in the age of entitlement and increases in State Pension amounts
• There were 311,430 people over state pension age claiming a key benefit, an increase of 360 since August 2014
• The number of Disability Living Allowance recipients was 206,980. This has risen by 7,100 since August 2014
• The number of Attendance Allowance recipients was 52,360 representing a fall of 920 on a year earlier
• The number of Carer’s Allowance claimants was 69,870. This represents an increase of 2,870 since August 2014