United Kingdom
Long-term working-age recipients of out-of-work benefits
Key points
- In 2008, 3 million working-age people had been receiving a key out-of-work benefit for two years or more.
- This number is the same as a decade ago. This lack of change contrasts with the decline in the total number of recipients of key benefits (see the indicator on all recipients of out-of-work benefits).
- Sickness or disability is now overwhelmingly the single most important reason why working-age people claim out-of-work benefits over a long period. Three-quarters of working-age people – 2.1 million people – receiving an out-of-work benefit for two years or more are classified as sick or disabled. This number is somewhat higher than a decade ago, when it was 1.9 million.
- By contrast, the number of long-term recipients of out-of-work benefits who are not sick or disabled has fallen over the last decade. In particular, the number who are unemployed has fallen dramatically, from 240,000 in 1998 to 40,000 in 2008.
- Two-fifths of all long-term claimants of Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance have mental or behaviour disorders. This is more than twice the size of the next largest group, namely those with musculo-skeletal disorders.
- Long-term sickness or disability, as measured by people claiming either Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance for two years or more, is by no means mainly confined to people coming up to retirement. Just a third of those claiming one of these benefits for two years or more are aged over 55. A further third are aged between 45 and 54 and the remaining third are aged under 45.
Graph 1: Over time
View Graph as PDF (resizeable) Right click to save large version of Graph as PNG
Graph 2: By reason
View Graph as PDF (resizeable) Right click to save large version of Graph as PNG
Graph 3: By age
View Graph as PDF (resizeable) Right click to save large version of Graph as PNG
Why this indicator was originally chosen
The duration of time spent on a very low income can have a considerable effect on the deprivation of a person or family. The majority of individuals who experience persistent very low income are claiming either Income Support (IS) or Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). The chosen indicator is the 'number of recipients claiming JSA or IS for two years or more'.
In 2002, the IS/JSA allowance for a single person of working age was £53.05. A person spending two years or more on a weekly income on that scale suffers considerable deprivation. Furthermore, the weekly payment does not rise with time so that as households' goods and clothing wear out, money to pay for replacements must be found within the same, limited weekly budget which has to cover all the essential costs of food, heat, power and travel.
When using benefit data, it is important to remember that a considerable number of people who have incomes low enough to make them eligible to claim do not do so. Take-up varies across the population. It is thought that in 1999-2000, between 87 and 95% (by caseload) of eligible parents claim income support. The equivalent rate for pensioners is considerably lower at 63-82%.Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up, Department of Social Security, 2000.
Another important factor is deductions from benefit. In 1996, a third of all Income Support claimants were having some money directly deducted from their benefit income. Money was deducted to pay for electricity, gas and water, for housing costs, including mortgage arrears, for Council Tax, and for recovery of fines, Social Fund payments and Child Support Maintenance.
Definitions and data sources
The first graph shows all those of working age who were in receipt of a 'key out-of-work benefit' for two years or more.
'Key out-of-work benefits' is a DWP term which covers the following benefits: Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance and Carer's Allowance. Note that this list is slightly different from 'key benefits', which also include Disability Living Allowance.
For each year, the total is broken down by type of claimant, namely: unemployed, sick or disabled, lone parents and carers. Note that a small number of 'others' have been omitted from the graph.
As can be seen from the first graph, the majority of long-term claimants of key out-of-work benefits are sick or disabled. In this context, the second graph shows, for the latest year, a breakdown by reason for those who have either been in receipt of Incapacity Benefit for two years or more or are in receipt of Severe Disablement Allowance.
The third graph shows, for the latest year, an age breakdown for those who have either been in receipt of Incapacity Benefit for two years or more or are in receipt of Severe Disablement Allowance.
The data source for all the graphs is the DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study. The data relates to Great Britain and is for the month of February of each year. The data has been analysed to avoid double-counting of those receiving multiple benefits by matching data from individual samples.
Overall adequacy of the indicator: high. The data is thought to be very reliable and is based on information collected by the DWP for the administration of benefits.
Relevant 2007 Public Service Agreements
Overall aim: Maximise employment opportunity for all.
Lead department
Department for Work and Pensions.
Official national targets
None.
Other indicators of progress
Overall employment rate taking account of the economic cycle.
Narrow the gap between the employment rates of the following disadvantaged groups and the overall rate: disabled people; lone parents; ethnic minorities; people aged 50 and over; those with no qualifications; and those living in the most deprived Local Authority wards.
Number of people on working age out-of-work benefits.
Amount of time people spend on out-of-work benefits.
Previous 2004 targets
As part of the wider objective of full employment in every region, over the three years to Spring 2008, and taking account of the economic cycle, demonstrate progress on increasing the employment rate.
As part of the wider objective of full employment in every region, over the three years to Spring 2008, and taking account of the economic cycle:
- increase the employment rates of disadvantaged groups (lone parents, ethnic minorities, people aged 50 and over, those with the lowest qualifications, and those living in local authority wards with the poorest initial labour market position); and
- significantly reduce the difference between the employment rates of the disadvantaged groups and the overall rate.
Relevant government policies
- National minimum wage
- Tax credits and their predecessors
- Increases in child benefit
- Pension credit and its predecessors
- Second state pension
External links
- See IFS report entitled A survey of the UK benefit system.
- See the DWP site on Pension Credit.
The numbers
Graph 1
| Thousands | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | All cases | Sick or disabled | Lone parents | Unemployed | Carers |
| 1997 | 3,130K | 1,920K | 660K | 360K | 190K |
| 1998 | 3,000K | 1,930K | 620K | 240K | 200K |
| 1999 | 2,940K | 1,940K | 580K | 200K | 210K |
| 2000 | 2,950K | 2,010K | 570K | 140K | 210K |
| 2001 | 2,980K | 2,070K | 570K | 110K | 220K |
| 2002 | 3,000K | 2,120K | 560K | 80K | 230K |
| 2003 | 3,050K | 2,190K | 560K | 60K | 240K |
| 2004 | 3,050K | 2,200K | 540K | 50K | 250K |
| 2005 | 3,040K | 2,210K | 520K | 50K | 250K |
| 2006 | 3,020K | 2,200K | 510K | 50K | 260K |
| 2007 | 2,980K | 2,180K | 500K | 50K | 260K |
| 2008 | 2,920K | 2,130K | 480K | 40K | 270K |
Graph 2
| Reason | Number of claimants (Thousands) | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mental and behaviour disorders | 840K | 42% |
| Musculoskeletal | 360K | 18% |
| Circulatory or respiratory | 150K | 8% |
| Nervous system | 140K | 7% |
| Injury and poisoning | 90K | 4% |
| Other classified | 200K | 10% |
| Other not classified | 230K | 11% |
Graph 3
| Age group | Number of claimants | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 24 | 70K | 4% |
| 25-34 | 220K | 11% |
| 35-44 | 430K | 22% |
| 45-54 | 590K | 30% |
| 55-64 | 680K | 33% |