SOCIAL SECURITY STATISTICS 2000

14 Dec 2000 12:00 AM

The 2000 edition of Social Security Statistics, published today, shows the numbers of people receiving a wide range of benefits.

Some of the main points are:-

Children and Families

The number of children (those aged 0-15 or 16-18 in full-time education) living in families claiming a key benefit fell to 2.71m (a drop of 3%) in the year to February 2000. Numbers in each statistical group fell, with the proportionally largest drop (14%) being amongst those families claiming because of unemployment.

Child Benefit: At the end of August 2000 there were around 7.11 million families receiving a payment of Child Benefit and 12.87 million children for whom a payment of Child Benefit was being made. Both remain broadly the same as at the same point a year earlier.

Child Support Agency: The total number of ''live'' and assessed cases rose from 973 thousand in August 1999 to 1,045 thousand in August 2000. Of the ''live'' August 2000 caseload, 981 thousand had a full maintenance assessment and 66 thousand an interim maintenance assessment where the Non-Resident Parent had not provided all of the requested details.

Working Age

Just over 5.0 million (14%) people of working age were claiming a key benefit in May 2000. This compares with 5.2 million in May 1999. In fact, overall numbers have been broadly falling since 1995. The downward trend in overall numbers is mainly due to a large reduction in unemployed claimants (1.0 million in May 2000 compared to 1.2 million in May 1999) though numbers in the lone parent and ''others'' groups have also fallen since 1999.

People over State Pension Age

In November 1999 about 97% (10.2 million) of people over state pension age claimed a key benefit - an unchanged proportion since May 1996. The proportion of women claiming at least one of the key state benefits is slightly lower than for men; 96% compared with 99% respectively.

Pensioners Incomes: In 1998/9, pensioner units received an average of #192 a week in net income - #141 a week for single pensioners and #272 a week for pensioner couples. Benefit income (including state Retirement Pension) accounted for an average of 51% of the gross income of pensioner units. Pensioners also received income from occupational pensions (26%), investments (14%) and earnings (8%).

Individual Benefit Statistics

Income Support: Income Support caseload increased by 10 thousand (0.3%) in the year to August 2000 to stand at 3.85 million. There were increases in the 60 or over (Minimum Income Guarantee) caseload of 10 thousand and the disabled caseload of 50 thousand (5%). However, there were decreases in the lone parent caseload of 31 thousand (3%) and the ''others'' group (18 thousand, 5%). Jobseeker''s Allowance: The number of people who claimed unemployment-related benefits, i.e. Jobseeker''s Allowance, fell by 166 thousand between August 1999 and August 2000 to 1.04 million. The reduction in numbers occurred across all elements of JSA.

Incapacity Benefit: In the year to 31 August 2000, the number of Incapacity Benefit claimants rose to stand at 2.29 million - up 0.5% on the same point a year earlier, and 5.5% lower than when Incapacity Benefit was introduced. Of those making a successful claim 779 thousand receive National Insurance Credits only, leaving 1.5 million recipients of Incapacity Benefit.

Severe Disablement Allowance: The number claiming Severe Disablement Allowance has fallen by 3 thousand (1%) in the year to August 2000, to stand at 367 thousand.

Housing Benefit: Between May 1999 and May 2000 there has been a fall in the number of people receiving Housing Benefit of 6.5%, from 4.31 million to 4.03 million.

Council Tax Benefit: The total Council Tax Benefit caseload stood at 4.8 million in May 2000. This represents an overall fall of 6.5% from May 1999.

Attendance Allowance: The number of people receiving Attendance Allowance increased by 0.5% in the year ending 31 May 2000 to 1.25 million. The majority (72%) were female and over half (61%) of all people were aged 80 and over.

Disability Living Allowance: The number of people receiving Disability Living Allowance increased by 3% in the year ending 31 May 2000 to 2.13 million. Of these people, 588 thousand received only the mobility component, 287 thousand received only the care component and 1,256 thousand received both mobility and care components.

Retirement Pension: The total number of persons in receipt of Retirement Pension at March 2000 is nearly 11 million. The number of men in receipt of Retirement Pension is just over 4.0 million and the number of women is around 6.9 million. There has been a net increase of 124 thousand (1.1%) in the retirement pensioner caseload over the period March 1999 to March 2000. Within this total net increase, the number of men increased by 84 thousand and the number of women increased by 41 thousand. The proportion of men within the RP caseload is slowly increasing and currently stands at 37%.

Appeals and Referrals: The number of new appeals lodged in the second quarter of 2000 was 58,740. This compares with 59,807 in the same quarter in 1999. The number of appeals received by the Appeals Service in the second quarter of 2000 was 64,649. This compares with 39,998 in the same quarter in 1999. Figures are revised on a quarterly basis and are expected to rise for later quarters. Interpretation of trends is affected by changes to the appeals procedures in April 1999.

In addition, SSS 2000 contains information on:

Social Fund Invalid Care Allowance Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Industrial Death Benefit Widow''s Benefit Guardian''s Allowance Maternity Benefits Occupational and Personal Pensions War Pension

Other Information

Low Income Statistics: This section gives information on people on low incomes in Great Britain. Tables and charts are from Households Below Average Income 1994/5-1998/9. The Households Below Average Income series provides estimates of patterns of disposable income and of changes over time, focusing particularly on the lower part of the income distribution.

Take-Up of Income Related Benefits: Take-up is measured by caseload and by expenditure. Expenditure take-up compares the total amount of benefit received in the course of a year, with the total amount that would be received if everyone took up their entitlement for the full period of their entitlement. Caseload take-up compares the number of benefit recipients - averaged over the year - with the number who would be receiving if everyone took up their entitlement for the full period of their entitlement. Take-up estimates were published on 8th December 2000 in ''Income Related Benefits Estimates of take-up in 1998/99''.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Background information

This is the 28th edition of Social Security Statistics. It is published annually by the Department of Social Security to provide a summary of statistics relating to social security published during the last 12 months. The format of Social Security Statistics 2000 is somewhat different from the 1999 edition. It begins by focussing on the three major social security client groups, before examining individual benefit statistics.

Social Security Benefits give financial support to individuals and families who have certain needs or who are in times of hardship.

The National Insurance Fund provides contributory benefits against loss of income for those who are retired, widowed, unemployed, sick or disabled. It also provides help for some people with the costs involved in having a baby.

Non-contributory benefits fall into two categories. There is means-tested support for people on low incomes in the form of Income Support, Jobseeker''s Allowance (Income Based), Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and help from the Social Fund. There are also non-contributory benefits, which are not means-tested. These include Child Benefit, Industrial Injuries benefits, War Pensions, and Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance for the long-term sick and disabled.

Tables showing trends are included for a run of years. Detailed analyses are provided for the latest available period in 2000 or the most recent year available.

Unless they say otherwise, tables relate to recipients living in Great Britain (and where indicated, overseas). Analyses for the English regions and for Wales and Scotland are presented in some tables, based on the government office regions (GORs).

The DSS Website (www.dss.gov.uk) gives access to a range of DSS statistical publications.

To obtain copies:

Social Security Statistics 2000 ISBN 1 84123 145 2

Paper Copies are available from: ASD Secretariat 0207 962 8192 Price: #15 Electronic Copies are available free of charge from: Ian Hertwick 0191 225 7336 or www.dss.gov.uk/asd/online.html