Fewer people on income support find work

After years of decrease, the number of people dependent on income support rose to 420 thousand in 2003. In the period 1999–2003 fewer and fewer people stopped claiming income support, while the number of new claimants rose. The number of income support claimants who found a job fell sharply.

Fewer people stop claiming income support

The number of people who stopped claiming income support decreased gradually between 1999 and 2003. Twenty-one percent of people with an income support benefit at the end of September 1999 had stopped claiming this benefit one year later. Of income support claimants in September 2002, only 12 percent did not have a benefit one year later. In the period 2002/’03 more people started than stopped claiming the benefit, and thus the number of people receiving the benefit rose.

People who start and stop claiming income support  

Sharp drop in number of people finding work

Fewer people stopped claiming the benefit in the period 1999–2003 caused fewer of started to work. Thirteen percent of people claiming income support in September 1999 had found a job and stopped receiving the benefit one year later. Of those receiving the benefit in September 2002 this was only 6 percent.

The group that stopped receiving the benefit but had not found a job remained about the same in the period 1999–2003. Half of this group consisted of people who had no income one year later, while the other half had reached the age 65, started claiming another benefit or had left the country.

People who stop claiming income support, by new source of income

More men than women find work

Eight percent of male claimants stopped receiving income support because they found a job, compared with 5 percent of women claimants. There was hardly any difference between claimants with a foreign background and those with a native Dutch background.

Jobs mainly in care, temporary work and trade

Between September 2002 and September 2003, 25 thousand people stopped claiming income support and started a job. The main sectors these people started work in were health care and welfare, temp agencies and trade.

People who stop claiming income support, by sector of new job, September 2002 – September 2003

Koos Arts and André Corpeleijn