Annual SWS Statistical Information Report

This is the thirty-seventh issue of the annual Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services report prepared by the Department of Social Protection. It sets out comprehensive data relating to services provided by the department.

Readers’ views and comments on the report are welcome and should be addressed to statsunit@welfare.ie

This report was published in August 2020.

The statistics set out in this report relate to 2019 and earlier years. In the case of data relating to recipients and beneficiaries, the figures, unless otherwise stated, refer to 31 December each year. The Operational Activity section, on the other hand, refers to accumulated annual figures. Several tables, which provide a breakdown of recipients or beneficiaries by some characteristic such as number of dependants or age, are referred to as “estimated”. This means that the proportionate breakdown, which is considered to be a reliable estimate, was established at a date other than, but close to, 31 December.

The source for the statistics presented, unless otherwise stated, is the Department of Social Protection. Time Series data are given, where available. However, the introduction of new payments and changes to existing payments can affect comparability over time. Relevant tables are footnoted where appropriate.

The Department of Social Protection also publishes an Annual Report which provides details of all major developments during the year in question. The Report is a progress report to the Minister and the government on the implementation of the department’s Strategy Statement.

Previous editions of this report included information on the Live Register. All information on the Live Register, including historic data, is available via the Central Statistics Office’s website, at www.cso.ie/en/statistics/labourmarket/liveregister.

The report is divided into nine sections as follows:

• Section A provides details of expenditure
• Section B provides details of recipients of weekly Social Welfare Payments, insured persons and rates of payment
• Section C provides details of expenditure and recipients of payments to Older and Retired People
• Section D provides details of expenditure and recipients of Working Age Income Groups
• Section E provides details of employment supports including Back to Work Allowance, Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, Back to Education Allowance
• Section F provides details of expenditure and recipients of Illness Benefit, Invalidity Pension, Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Carer’s Allowance and Occupational Injury Benefits
• Section G provides details of expenditure and recipients of child related payments including Child Benefit, Guardian’s Payment and Back to School Footwear and Clothing Allowance
• Section H provides details of expenditure and recipients of Rent Supplement, Mortgage Supplement and Local Authority Mortgage Supplements and other miscellaneous payments
• Section I provides details of Claims Activity