Key Points

A summary of the key points at July 2021 is as follows:

  • There were 186,830 migrants registered with a National Insurance Number living in Northern Ireland.
  • 14% (25,890) of migrants in Northern Ireland were in receipt of benefits.
  • The most claimed benefit by migrants was Universal Credit with 14,790 migrants being in receipt.
  • Belfast was the Local Government District with the highest proportion of migrants at 155 migrants per 1,000 population, 12% of these migrants in Belfast were claiming benefits.
  • The two countries of origin with the most migrants in Northern Ireland were Republic of Ireland with 35,140 and Poland with 34,350.
  • 5,660 (16%) of Republic of Ireland migrants and 4,270 (12%) of migrants from Poland were in receipt of benefit(s).

Introduction

This publication analyses data relating to non-UK Nationals living in Northern Ireland, with specific focus on this groups’ current and historical interaction with the benefit system.

In this report the term migrant is used to refer to a non-UK National resident in Northern Ireland and registered with a National Insurance Number (NINO). If a migrant has subsequently attained UK citizenship that will not be reflected in these figures, instead they will be recorded under the nationality at the point of registering for a NINO. Country of origin in this report is based on nationality provided as part of NINO application.

Universal Credit has been added to the report as part of the benefits analysed for the first time this year.

Supplementary tables (Open Document Spreadsheet) accompanying this publication are available on the Department for Communities (DfC) website.

1. Migrants in Northern Ireland

Total Migrants Registered with a NINO in Northern Ireland

In total there were 186,830 migrants registered with a NINO living in Northern Ireland at July 2021. This was an increase of 1% since July 2020 (185,060). There was a significant dip in new migrant registrations in 2020 (2,730) coinciding with Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions. Numbers had returned to pre 2020 level by 2021 (9,880).

The map of Northern Ireland (Fig. 1) shows how many migrants resided in each of the eleven Local Government Districts (LGDs) (Migrants per 1,000 population). The LGD with the largest number of migrants per 1,000 population was Belfast with 155. Ards and North Down had the least with 48 per 1,000 population.

Figure 1: Migrants per 1,000 population by Local Government District in NI, data at July 2021.

The darker areas of the map are districts with higher numbers of migrants per 1,000 population.

Total Number of Migrants Registered with a NINO by Region of Origin

Of the total migrants registered, the majority are from within the European Union (77%). Looking at this more closely, 44% from countries joining the EU since 2004 and 32% are from countries who joined the EU prior to 2004. Migrants from European countries outside the EU make up 1% of the total migrants to Northern Ireland. Outside of Europe, Asia and Middle East was the region with the highest proportion of migrants making up 11% of the total migrants in Northern Ireland.

Figure 2: Region of Origin of Migrants in Northern Ireland, data at July 2021.

The pie chart displays the proportion of Number of Migrants registered with a NINO by Region of Origin. Data available for download in alternative format.

In figure 2 each rectangle represents a specific region of origin; the size of the rectangle is proportional to the number of migrants from that region.

Top 10 Nationalities of Migrants Registered with a NINO

Table 1 shows the top 10 nationalities of migrants registered with a NINO at the end of July 2021. For each, the number of migrants and the percentage the total NI migrant population of 186,830 is shown, ranked in descending order. Migrants from the below 10 countries make up 71% of the Northern Ireland migrant population.

Table 1: Distribution of Migrants in the Top 10 Nationalities of Migrants resident in Northern Ireland, data at July 2021.

Country Of Origin Number Of Migrants Percentage Of Total Migrants
1 Republic of Ireland 35,140 19%
2 Poland 34,350 18%
3 Lithuania 14,940 8%
4 Romania 11,360 6%
5 Portugal 9,070 5%
6 India 6,910 4%
7 Bulgaria 6,180 3%
8 Slovakia 5,850 3%
9 Latvia 4,470 2%
10 Spain 3,990 2%

2. Current Claimants

Less than 1 in 7 Migrants Living in Northern Ireland were in Receipt of Benefit(s).

This section presents an analysis on the migrants who were recorded as claiming at least one benefit under the remit of the Department for Communities (DfC) or the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE).

Of the total 186,830 of migrants in NI, 14% (25,890) were claiming at least one benefit.

Number of Migrants Claiming each Benefit

Universal Credit had the greatest uptake with 14,790 (57%) of migrant claimants being in receipt (Fig.3). This was followed by Personal Independence Payment (18%), Housing Benefit (18%) and Retirement Pension (14%).

Figure 3: Number of Migrants Claiming Each Benefit, data at July 2021.

Top 10 Countries of Origin of Migrants Claiming Benefits

Below are the top 10 countries of migrants claiming benefits at the end of July 2021 and the percentage of migrants from that country of origin that are claiming benefits.

For migrants from the top 10 countries of benefit claimants, between 12% and 16% of migrants from nine of the top 10 countries were in receipt of benefits. A notable outlier was Syria with 81% of Syrian migrants claiming benefits.

Table 2: Top 10 Countries of Origin of Migrants Claiming Benefits in Northern Ireland, data at July 2021.

Country Of Origin Number Of Migrants Migrants Claiming Benefits Percentage Of Migrants Claiming Benefits
1 Republic of Ireland 35,140 5,660 16%
2 Poland 34,350 4,270 12%
3 Lithuania 14,940 2,020 14%
4 Romania 11,360 1,580 14%
5 Portugal 9,070 1,350 15%
6 Bulgaria 6,180 960 16%
7 Slovakia 5,850 910 16%
8 Syria 1,110 900 81%
9 Latvia 4,470 690 16%
10 Hungary 3,420 420 12%

Number of Migrants Claiming at Least One Benefit by Age Group and Gender

The chart below (Fig. 4) shows the total migrants and migrants claiming benefits by age group. The largest proportion of migrants were aged 35-49 with 12% in receipt of at least one benefit. The 65+ age group was the group with the highest proportion in receipt of at least one benefit with 50% of the 8,810 in receipt. However, this age group accounted for just 5% of total migrants.

Figure 4: Distribution of Migrants and Migrants Claiming Benefit(s) by Age Group, data at July 2021.

There were more male migrants (97,850) than female migrants (84,520), however proportionally more female migrants (17%) claimed benefit(s) compared to male migrants (11%).

Figure 5: Distribution of Migrants and Migrants Claiming Benefit(s) by Gender, data at July 2021.

Migrants Claiming Benefits by Local Government District (LGD)

The chart below (Fig. 6) compares the total migrants living in each Local Government District (LGD) to the number that were claiming benefit(s). Belfast LGD had the highest number of migrants claiming benefits, 6,390 or 25% of total migrants claiming benefits in NI. However, Belfast had the lowest proportion of migrants claiming benefits relative to the migrant population of the area 12%. Fermanagh and Omagh had the highest proportion, 17% of the 11,370 migrants were claiming benefits.

Figure 6: Distribution of Migrants and Migrants Claiming Benefit(s), by Local Government District, data at July 2021.

Notes

Background Information

The data used to produce the analysis in this report was sourced from the National Insurance Recording and Pay as you Earn System (NPS) that is maintained by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). To gain an insight into migrant interaction with the benefit system the NPS dataset was merged with Department for Communities (DfC) data scans that detail claimants of all DfC administered benefits (from 2005 to July 2021) and Housing Benefit. This report provides information on migrants registered as residing in Northern Ireland, the number claiming benefits in July 2021 and those who had previously claimed benefits.

Impact of Coronavirus

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which spread to the UK in early 2020 resulted in applications for NINO’s being suspended for all nationalities. However, for those requiring a NINO for benefit purposes, applications were completed via the telephone.

From April 2021, an on-line digital application has replaced the original clerical process to apply for a National Insurance Number. Applicants applied by accessing the nidirect website.

Temporary changes were made to Universal Credit as a means of supporting households during this period, alongside other schemes the government introduced. As a result, there was a marked increase in the number of claims for Universal Credit.

See DfC Covid 19 Management Information Statistics for further details.

The numbers and nationalities of migrants coming to Northern Ireland will also have been affected by the UK exit from the EU. This occurred on 31 January 2020 but was followed by a transition period when EU law continued to apply. The transition period ended on 31 December 2020 when the UK exited the EU single market and customs union and free movement of EEA citizens in the UK ended.

Data Quality and Methodology

Migrant Data

Migrant data was extracted from the National Insurance and Pay as you Earn System (NPS) maintained by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) at July 2021. It relates to non-UK nationals recorded as resident in Northern Ireland at time of extract. Addresses are taken from the Customer Information System (CIS) , a cross government asset owned by DWP which holds NINOs.

Country of origin in this report is based on nationality provided as part of NINO application. Analysing nationality at the point of NINO registration, however, is not the same as the number of foreign-born individuals or current non-UK nationals. This is because some individuals will have subsequently obtained British nationality. Moreover, this measure does not capture foreign-born individuals who were naturalised (obtained UK nationality) prior to NINO registration.

Benefit Data

The Benefit scans in this publication are 100% extracts from the benefit administrative systems. Data is extracted at 2, 4 or 6 weekly intervals. Unless stated otherwise, analyses included the following DfC administered benefits:

  • Attendance Allowance (AA),
  • Bereavement Allowance (BB)
  • Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
  • Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Incapacity Benefit (IB)
  • Industrial Injuries Benefit (IIB)
  • Invalid Carer’s Allowance (CA)
  • Income Support (IS)
  • Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)
  • Maternity Allowance (MA)
  • Pension Credit (PC)
  • Personal Independence Payments (PIP)
  • Retirement Pension (RP)
  • Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA)
  • Universal Credit (UC)
  • Widow’s Benefit (WB)

Data for Housing Benefit (HB), administered by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), a DfC arm’s length body, was supplied to DfC.

Benefit Details

See NI Direct Benefits and Financial Support for details on each benefit, including their eligibility criteria.

Universal Credit (UC) was introduced for new claims on a phased geographical basis across Northern Ireland from September 2017 to December 2018. Universal Credit is a single payment for each household, to help with living costs for those on a low income or out of work. Support for housing costs, children and childcare costs are integrated into Universal Credit. It also provides additions for people with a disability, health condition or caring responsibilities which may prevent them from working. Universal Credit replaces:

  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Income Support
  • Working Tax Credit
  • Child Tax Credit
  • Housing Benefit

From 20 June 2016, DLA has been replaced for working age claimants by Personal Independence Payment (PIP). There have been no new working age claimants to DLA from that date. Reassessment of existing DLA claimants to PIP began in December 2016 and have now been completed. Claimants turning 16 will continue to be reassessed for PIP. Detailed PIP statistics can be found in a separate publication.

State Pension age for women increased from 60 to 65 between May 2010 and November 2018. It then increased from 65 to 66 for both men and women between November 2018 and October 2020. State Pension age is scheduled to remain at 66 until April 2026. More information is available from NI Direct - State Pension.

No new claims for Severe Disablement Allowance have been allowed since 6 April 2001. Severe Disablement Allowance has been replaced with Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Changes for this release

Universal Credit (UC) benefit was included in this report for the first time and in the accompanying Supplementary Tables for 2020 and 2021.

As the 2019 report in this series was delayed due to the impact of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the decision was taken to skip the 2020 report and release more recent 2021 figures. Supplementary tables with data for 2020 are published alongside this release.

Some of the region names were updated for this release, for ease of understanding. European Union Accession was changed to European Union Since 2004 and European Union (Excluding Accession) was changed to European Union Pre 2004.

Revisions

Figures for New Migrant Registrations in Northern Ireland per Annum (Table 1.1 of the supplementary tables) come from DWP published figures on National Insurance number allocations to adult overseas nationals entering the UK to December each year. Figures for 2016-2018 were revised due to a change in methodology, whereby NINOs with unknown addresses were no longer randomly allocated to a Census Output Area.

Retrospection

The statistics contained within the publication and supplementary tables are subject to revision in any future releases. This is to account for retrospective actions on the benefit system, which may also lead to a revision of the figures contained within. These revisions are performed in accordance with T3.9 of the UK Statistics Authority Code of Practice for Statistics.

Longitudinal Database

The Professional Services Unit (PSU) developed the longitudinal database using benefit and pension scans from DWP. It includes details of claimants on benefits since 2005. It does not contain records for housing benefit or PIP. Universal Credit (UC) was added to this section for the first time this year. The longitudinal database tracks an individual’s history on benefits since 2005, identifying when they came on and off benefit, as well as changes in address, name etc. For an individual with multiple spells on benefit, they have been treated as one longer spell on benefit that included any intervening gaps. For these cases the actual length of time on benefit is less than that shown. For individuals still on benefit at data extraction, benefit duration was measured to that date.

Geographical Data

Information from the Central Postcode Directory (CPD), compiled by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), was used for geographical analysis. The CPD relates current and terminated postcodes in Northern Ireland to a range of statutory, administrative, electoral and other area geographies. Total population figures for each Local Government District were taken from the NISRA 2021 mid-year population estimates.

Matching

Migrant’s data and benefit data were matched using the unique identifier National Insurance Number (NINO). Non-UK nationals can apply for a NINO upon arrival in the United Kingdom (UK). The purpose of a National Insurance number is to make sure a person’s National Insurance contributions and tax are recorded against their name only. For a non-UK national to register for a NINO, they must have the right to work or study in the UK.

Data Quality

Although figures accurately reflect the number of NINOs registered over time, a change to the process of recording NINOs in 2014, means that the volume of NINO registrations was lower in the year to June 2014 and then higher in the year to June 2015 than would otherwise be the case. Therefore, comparisons of NINO registrations over time between these periods should be viewed with caution. The registration date referred to in this report represents the date the information on the individual was processed on HM Revenue and Customs’ National Insurance Recording and Pay as you Earn System (NPS) i.e., after the NINO application and allocation process has been completed. This may occur several weeks or months after arriving in the UK. These statistics provide an estimate of the number of people currently claiming benefit who, when they first registered for a NINO, were migrants. It should be noted that people may have moved since this registration, therefore, the numbers should not be used as a definitive count of all migrants in Northern Ireland.

Rounding

Figures contained within this publication have been rounded to the nearest ten. Percentages and totals shown are calculated using unrounded figures before rounding. Some totals therefore may not sum due to rounding.

Limitations

While quality assurance checks were completed on the data and statistical outputs prior to publication, errors in the statistics may occasionally arise due to IT system errors or human error. In the event of errors in statistical outputs, corrections will be made as soon as is practicably possible and notification of corrections will be published on the DfC website.

Contact Information

User Feedback

Professional Services Unit (PSU) are continuing to reach out to users of this publication to better understand how the statistics are being used and whether there are any improvements that can be made. Statisticians in PSU are committed to following best practice when producing statistics. For all our statistical publications, we aim to follow the ‘Code of Practice for Statistics’.

As part of our responsibilities under the Code of Practice, we want to hear from people who use the figures within the Migrant Access to Benefit statistics publication. We would like to find out what people use the statistics for and to make sure that the publication is as useful as it can be. PSU also wishes to assess how we communicate with users on an ongoing basis. If you wish to get in touch with us about this publication, please email: