Benefits statistics

Benefit Cap statistics

The Benefit Cap is a limit on the total amount of benefit that working-age people can receive. From 31 May 2016, the amount a household could receive in benefit income was limited to £26,000 per annum. On 7 November 2016, this threshold was lowered to £20,000 per annum. On 1 April 2023 this was increased to £22.020 per annum.

• Benefit Cap statistics

Benefits statistics summary

The Benefits Statistics Summary provides an up-to-date, concise overview of the main benefits administered by the Department. It is designated as a National Statistic and is produced quarterly.

• Benefits statistics summary

Pension Credit statistics

The Pension Credit: Estimates of Benefit Take-up report is intended to provide an estimate of the take-up of Pension Credit within the entitled population. Each report has been produced using data for a given financial year, and provides estimates of Pension Credit take-up for various demographic groups.

• Pension Credit statistics

Personal Independence Payment statistics

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a new benefit replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people aged between 16 to 64 years. PIP and DLA cannot be claimed at the same time.

• Personal Independence Payment statistics

Universal Credit statistics

Universal Credit is a new payment to help support households that are out of work or are on a low income. Universal Credit was introduced in Northern Ireland on a phased geographical basis from 27 September 2017.

• Universal Credit statistics

Migrant Access to Benefits

The Migrant Access to Benefit(s) statistical publication produced by the Department, contains analysis on non-UK nationals living in Northern Ireland, with specific focus on this groups’ current and historical interaction with the benefit system.

• Migrant Access to Benefits

Universal Credit and Personal Independence Bill Impact Analysis tables

In March 2025, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) published 'Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper'. DWP's 'Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms - Impacts' document included high-level figures on the impact of the planned changes to both PIP and UC, in DWP jurisdictions. Impacts of the change for Northern Ireland were not provided.

The Department for Communities (DfC) worked with DWP analysts and obtained the methodology and modelling used for the production of the impacts for DWP.  Analytics Division used NI data to produce volumes and forecasts for Northern Ireland. The impact of the planned changes provided in these documents relate to Northern Ireland only and are comparable with the equivalent data produced by DWP in their impact documents.

Northern Ireland data was published on 27 June to reflect the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Bill as it was introduced into Parliament on 18 June 2025.

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions announced on 30 June that the reforms for PIP and UC would impact only new claimants to the benefits. Therefore, revised analysis has been produced to reflect this. The previous analysis will remain available for comparative purposes.   

During the Bill’s second stage debate on 1 July, the UK Government committed to amendment of the Bill to remove entirely the clauses relating to the PIP changes.

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Daily Living Activity Scores Statistics - April 2025
• Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill Impact Analysis tables - 30 June 2025
• Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill Impact Analysis tables - 18 June 2025

Other benefit related publications/research

• Examining Common Benefit Combinations for Northern Ireland

Contact us

• Analytics Division