Northern Ireland Benefits Statistics Summary at November 2015 is published

Date published: 24 February 2016

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

• The number of Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants was 38,010. This represents a decrease of 10,380 since November 2014
• The number of Employment and Support Allowance claimants was 119,450 and the number of Employment and Support Allowance recipients was 114,370. This represents an increase in claimants of 5,650 on a year earlier
• At December 2015 the number of Incapacity Benefit claimants was 2,580 and the number of Incapacity Benefit recipients was 10
• At December 2015 the number of Severe Disablement Allowance claimants was 1,570 and the number of Severe Disablement Allowance recipients was 1,530
• There were 38,710 claimants of Income Support. This represents a fall of 220 since November 2014
• There were 252,290 people of working age claiming a key benefit. This has fallen by 4,430 from a year earlier
• At December 2015 the number of State Pension claimants was 307,500 an increase of 1,430 on a year earlier
• There were 83,410 claimants and 102,100 beneficiaries of Pension Credit. Claimants have fallen by 4,310 since November 2014, mainly as a result of an increase in the age of entitlement and increases in State Pension amounts
• There were 312,400 people over state pension age claiming a key benefit, an increase of 1,360 since November 2014
• The number of Disability Living Allowance recipients was 208,760. This has risen by 6,550 since November 2014
• The number of Attendance Allowance recipients was 51,960 representing a fall of 1,070 on a year earlier
• The number of Carer’s Allowance claimants was 70,170. This represents an increase of 2,630 since November 2014.