AQW 24572/22-27 Written question to the Minister for Communities
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail the share of individuals claiming disability benefits in Northern Ireland as a percentage of the working-age population in each of the last five year, broken down by: (i) age group; and (ii) constituency.
Asked by Sian Mulholland MLA on 18 March 2025
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Tabled
- 18 March 2025
- Answer due by
- 2 April 2025
- Answered
- 25 April 202538 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Communities
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Please note that disability benefits measured in this analysis are Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit and Severe Disability Benefit.
(i) Proportion of NI working age population on disability benefits by Age Group.
| Age Group | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| 16-19 | 6% | 7% | 7% | 9% | 10% |
| 20-24 | 7% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 9% |
| 25-29 | 8% | 8% | 8% | 9% | 9% |
| 30-34 | 9% | 9% | 9% | 10% | 10% |
| 35-39 | 10% | 10% | 10% | 11% | 12% |
| 40-44 | 11% | 11% | 12% | 12% | 13% |
| 45-49 | 16% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% |
| 50-54 | 20% | 19% | 19% | 19% | 20% |
| 55-59 | 23% | 23% | 24% | 24% | 25% |
| 60-65 | 26% | 27% | 28% | 30% | 32% |
| Total | 14% | 14% | 15% | 15% | 16% |
(ii) Proportion of working age NI working age population on disability benefits by Parliamentary Constituency.
| Constituency | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Belfast East | 13% | 13% | 13% | 14% | 15% |
| Belfast North | 19% | 19% | 20% | 21% | 22% |
| Belfast South and Mid Down | 8% | 9% | 9% | 9% | 9% |
| Belfast West | 24% | 24% | 24% | 25% | 27% |
| East Antrim | 12% | 12% | 13% | 14% | 14% |
| East Londonderry | 15% | 15% | 15% | 16% | 17% |
| Fermanagh and South Tyrone | 12% | 13% | 13% | 13% | 14% |
| Foyle | 20% | 21% | 22% | 23% | 24% |
| Lagan Valley | 10% | 10% | 11% | 11% | 12% |
| Mid Ulster | 13% | 13% | 13% | 14% | 14% |
| Newry and Armagh | 14% | 14% | 14% | 15% | 16% |
| North Antrim | 13% | 14% | 14% | 15% | 16% |
| North Down | 11% | 11% | 12% | 12% | 13% |
| South Antrim | 12% | 12% | 12% | 13% | 14% |
| South Down | 13% | 13% | 14% | 14% | 15% |
| Strangford | 12% | 12% | 13% | 14% | 15% |
| Upper Bann | 14% | 14% | 14% | 15% | 15% |
| West Tyrone | 17% | 17% | 18% | 18% | 19% |
| Total | 14% | 14% | 15% | 15% | 16% |