Northern Ireland Benefits Statistics Summary at May 2016 published

Date published: 31 August 2016

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

• The number of Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants was 35,560. This represents a decrease of 5,590 since May 2015.
• The number of Employment and Support Allowance claimants was 121,720 and the number of Employment and Support Allowance recipients was 116,680. This represents an increase in claimants of 3,580 on a year earlier.
• The number of Incapacity Benefit claimants was 2,380 and the number of Incapacity Benefit recipients was 10.
• The number of Severe Disablement Allowance claimants was 1,500 and the number of Severe Disablement Allowance recipients was 1,460.
• There were 38,640 claimants of Income Support. This represents a fall of 380 since May 2015.
• There were 252,880 people of working age claiming a key benefit. This has fallen by 1,200 from a year earlier.
• The number of State Pension claimants was 307,550, an increase of 1,180 on a year earlier.
• There were 80,580 claimants and 98,230 beneficiaries of Pension Credit. Claimants have fallen by 4,150 since May 2015, mainly as a result of an increase in the age of entitlement and increases in State Pension amounts.
• There were 312,100 people over state pension age claiming a key benefit, an increase of 1,150 since May 2015.
• The number of Disability Living Allowance recipients was 212,210. This has risen by 6,600 since May 2015.
• The number of Attendance Allowance recipients was 51,580 representing a fall of 1,000 on a year earlier.
• The number of Carer’s Allowance claimants was 71,220. This represents an increase of 2,050 since May 2015.