Updated 28 September 2012
Number of people on key out of work benefits
Indicator description
This indicator measures the non-seasonally adjusted number of people aged 16 to State Pension age claiming:
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Incapacity Benefit (IB)
- Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA)
- Income Support (IS) (as a lone parent or in the “other” category)
- Pension Credit (under State Pension age) (PC).
It includes people claiming in Great Britain, including some living overseas.
Latest data (published in August 2012)
The latest data shows that a total of 4.93 million people aged 16 to State Pension age claimed a key out of work benefit in February 2012. This increased from 4.86 million at February 2011. Due to seasonal movements in benefit claiming patterns only year on year comparisons can be made. Data are based on 100% data and therefore the change represents a real increase. Data have previously been published on a quarterly basis but will now be temporarily published six-monthly.
Total numbers claiming a key out of work benefit (millions)
| February | May | August | November | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 4.93 | |||
| 2011 | 4.86 | 4.80 | 4.87 | 4.83 |
| 2010 | 5.10 | 4.93 | 4.87 | 4.78 |
| 2009 | 4.94 | 5.04 | 5.08 | 5.02 |
| 2008 | 4.35 | 4.32 | 4.41 | 4.54 |
- Further data, including the history based on the latest data point (Annual data page) and the whole data series (full time series page) (60KB)
– the cover sheet provides further information with links to additional data sources and breakdowns
