Out-of-work benefits by borough
Key points
- The proportion of working-age adults claiming an out-of-work benefit in London is about the same as in the rest of England.
- Overall, there has been no increase in the proportion of working-age Londoners claiming an out-of-work benefit since 2007.
- However, all boroughs in Outer London have seen rises (which are balanced by falls in some Inner London boroughs).
Proportion of people receiving out-of-work benefits by borough
What does this graph show?
The proportion of working-age adults claiming an out-of-work benefit in London in 2010 was very similar to the level it was in 2007. This is in contrast to the rest of England, where the proportion rose. The proportions in London and the rest of England are now almost identical, at around 14%. Around 740,000 working-age people in London claim an out-of-work benefit.
In Inner London, the proportion was similar to three years previously, but still higher than the rest of England figure at 16%. In Outer London, it was slightly higher than in 2007, at 13% compared to 12%.
Some areas in Inner London where rates of people claiming out-of-work benefits were high, such as Hackney, Southwark and Tower Hamlets have seen small falls. However other Inner London boroughs with high rates such as Newham, Haringey and Lewisham have seen small rises. All boroughs in Outer London have seen rises, including areas where rates were already high such as Barking & Dagenham, Greenwich, Enfield, Brent and Waltham Forest.
Data used
DWP WPLS series. The data is for February 2007 and February 2010
Indicator last updated: 30 January 2012
Topic:
Groups:
Boroughs:
- Barking and Dagenham
- Barnet
- Bexley
- Brent
- Bromley
- Camden
- City of London
- Croydon
- Ealing
- Enfield
- Greenwich
- Hackney
- Hammersmith and Fulham
- Haringey
- Harrow
- Havering
- Hillingdon
- Hounslow
- Islington
- Kensington and Chelsea
- Kingston upon Thames
- Lambeth
- Lewisham
- Merton
- Newham
- Redbridge
- Richmond upon Thames
- Southwark
- Sutton
- Tower Hamlets
- Waltham Forest
- Wandsworth
- Westminster
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Glossary
Job Seeker's Allowance:
Job seeker's allowance (JSA) is paid to those out-of-work but actively seeking it. There is both an income-based and contribution-based version of this benefit. The contribution- based version is limited to six months, after which a claimant may receive the income-based benefit, or no benefit at all, depending on their family income. In 2009, the basic rate of JSA was £64.30 per week for a single adult and £100.95 for a couple. 'Receiving JSA' is not the same as 'unemployment', which is measured via a household survey.
Incapacity Benefit:
Given to people who cannot work because of illness or disability. It is paid if Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) has ended or the individual cannot get SSP. Claimants must have paid NI contributions and been incapable of work because of sickness or disability for at least 4 days in a row including weekends and public holidays.
Since October 2008 new claimants have received an Employment and Support Allowance. This allowance will eventually replace Incapacity Benefit
(Taken from DWP website)
Outer London:
Barking & Dagenham, Barnet, Bromley, Bexley, Brent, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kingston upon Thames, Merton, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Sutton, Waltham Forest
Inner London:
Camden, Hackney, Hammersmith & Fulham, Haringey, Islington, Kensington & Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth, Westminster