Friday, April 17, 2015

Benefit numbers continue to fall

Proportion of working-age population receiving main benefits


Benefit numbers chart

I am always interesting in the underlying numbers, for instance, is it long-term dependants that are coming off welfare?

Part of the answer lies in the data tables. 5 years ago 69.5 percent of current beneficiaries had been continuously on welfare for a year or more. Today the percentage is 74. However, the total number reliant for a year or more has also fallen from 225,957 in 2010 to 210,482 today.

The official reason for reducing numbers?

"Changes in benefit numbers over this period largely reflect changes in economic conditions."


1 comment:

Anonymous said...

"Changes in benefit numbers over this period largely reflect changes in economic conditions."

In other words: National's so-called benefit reform really is nothing more than renaming: the reforms have had absolutely no effect.

In the midwest, a state reduced bludgers by 80% in the same time - by just not paying people


Oh yeah, and your pretty graphs left out the biggest benefit of all: the codger-dole. Add that in and benefit numbers and spending has continued to increase crazily, rather than decrease.