Northern Ireland
Long-term working-age recipients of out-of-work benefits
Key points
- At 130,000 the total number of people in Northern Ireland receiving a key out-of-work benefit for more than two years in 2007 was similar that in 1999.
- While the total has changed little, the mix has altered markedly over the period, with a steady growth in the numbers of sick and disabled recipients and corresponding falls in some other groups. Thus, the number of long-term sick and disabled recipients has risen by 20,000 over the last eight years and, at 110,000, now accounts for four-fifths of all long-term recipients. The group which has seen the largest fall are the long-term unemployed, down from 14,000 in 1999 to just 2,000 in 2007.
- Long-term recipients of sickness and disability benefits are by no means confined to those in their 50s or early 60s. In fact, those aged 55 to 64 make up just a third, with a further third aged 45 to 54 and the same number again aged under 45. One in seven are under 35.
Graph 1: Over time
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Graph 2: By age
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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' covers the following benefits: Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance.
For each year, the total is broken down by type of claimant: unemployed, sick and disabled, lone parents and others (e.g. carers and asylum seekers).
The data source for the first graph is the Department for Social Development. The data for each year is for the month of February.
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 data source for the second graph is the Department for Social Development IB and SDA statistics.