Northern Ireland Benefits Statistics Summary at February 2016

Date published: 25 May 2016

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

• the number of Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants was 38,360. This represents a decrease of 6,990 since February 2015
• the number of Employment and Support Allowance claimants was 120,620 and the number of Employment and Support Allowance recipients was 115,290. This represents an increase in claimants of 4,190 on a year earlier
• at March 2016 the number of Incapacity Benefit claimants was 2,480 and the number of Incapacity Benefit recipients was 10
• at March 2016 the number of Severe Disablement Allowance claimants was 1,540 and the number of Severe Disablement Allowance recipients was 1,500
• there were 38,740 claimants of Income Support. This represents a fall of 420 since February 2015
• there were 254,270 people of working age claiming a key benefit. This has fallen by 2,130 from a year earlier
• at March 2016 the number of State Pension claimants was 307,150 an increase of 1,540 on a year earlier
• there were 82,270 claimants and 100,560 beneficiaries of Pension Credit. Claimants have fallen by 4,630 since February 2015, mainly as a result of an increase in the age of entitlement and increases in State Pension amounts
• there were 312,050 people over state pension age claiming a key benefit, an increase of 1,240 since February 2015
• the number of Disability Living Allowance recipients was 210,260. This has risen by 6,470 since February 2015
• the number of Attendance Allowance recipients was 51,480 representing a fall of 1,290 on a year earlier.
• the number of Carer’s Allowance claimants was 70,280. This represents an increase of 2,030 since February 2015