Working age out-of-work benefits by borough

Key points

  • Since 2002, most boroughs in Inner London have seen a decrease in the proportion of working age adults receiving out of work benefits.
  • All boroughs in Outer London have seen an increase.
  • So, whereas in 2002, 8 of the 10 boroughs with the highest rates were in Inner London, now it is only 6.

The proportion of working-age adults receiving out-of-work benefits, over time

What does the graph show?

The bar graph shows several different points of interest. Firstly, the boroughs with the highest levels of benefit recipiency are all in the East of London, whether Inner or Outer.

Secondly, the boroughs which have seen the biggest increases in this proportion are all in the Outer East and North East - Barking and Dagenham, Waltham Forest, Greenwich and Enfield.

Boroughs in Inner London with high rates of benefit recipiency have nonetheless seen these rates decline between 2002 and 2009. Tower Hamlets, Newham, Hackney and Lewisham all have a lower proportion of working age adults claiming benefits in 2009 than in 2002.

The most notable reductions in the numbers of working-age adults receiving out-of-work benefits have occurred in Southwark, where 15% of working-age adults now receive a key out-of-work benefit compared to 19% in 2002. In Camden, the proportion has fallen from 16% to 13%.

So, whereas in 2002, 8 of the 10 boroughs with the highest rates were in Inner London, now it is only 6.

Data used

Department for Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study, 2009

Indicator last updated: 13 July 2010

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Other indicators in Barking and Dagenham

Other indicators in Camden

Other indicators in Croydon

Other indicators in Enfield

Other indicators in Greenwich

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Other indicators in Waltham Forest

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Glossary

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

Pension Credit Guarantee:

Paid to those pensioners who have little or no income. In 2008 the guarantee brought a pensioner's income to £124.05 a week for single pensioners and £189.35 a week for pensioner couples

Key out-of-work benefits:

Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), Income Support (IS), Incapacity Benefit (IB), Severe Disablement Allowance, Carer's Allowance. Disability Living Allowance is not a key out-of-work benefit as it is available to people who may be in work and is not means-tested.

Benefit recipiency levels:

the proportion of working-age adults receiving out-of-work benefits

Read all glossary definitions

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