OFFICIAL figures showing the number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Fermanagh has dropped dramatically have been questioned by professionals working with those seeking benefits in the county.
The March labour market report from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) showed there were almost 19 per cent less people in the Fermanagh and Omagh district claiming unemployment benefits, such as Jobseekers Allowance (JSA), in February 2016 than in the previous year.
It has been pointed out, however, that unemployment figures don’t take into account the number of people migrating from the region to find work elsewhere
The number of people claiming JSA across the North fell by around 8,000 (17.3 per cent) over the same period, though the North still has the highest claimant count of the 12 regions of the UK, with around 39,300 people signing-on, accounting for 4.3 per cent of the workforce.
The figures show Fermanagh and Omagh has seen an even more significant decrease in claimants over the year. In February 2016, a total of 2,274 people were seeking unemployment benefit in the district, 1,504 men and 770 women. That’s a total of 3.1 per cent of the district’s working-age population, and an 18.8 per cent decrease on the previous year.
However, those working along with claimants in Fermanagh have said the reality on the ground is rather different that the numbers would suggest.
Siobhan Peoples, manager of the Fermanagh Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) who help advise and support those applying for benefits, said she was surprised to hear that the number of claimants had decreased.
“That doesn’t really reflect what we’re seeing here,” she said. “We’re getting busier and busier. Our statistics are increasing, not decreasing.”
Ms Peoples explained that CAB was noticing a sharp increase in the number of people seeking work replacement benefits, such as Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), due to ill health and other reasons. The number of people claiming ESA and other similar benefits were not included in DETI’s labour market report.
“We have people with all types of both physical and mental health problems, of all age groups,” said Ms Peoples. “We’re seeing a particular increase in the number of people who are aged 60 plus coming to us, just before pension age.”
Ms People explained the people applying for support were now, since the Labour Government’s reforms of 2009, having to be reassessed to continue to receive their benefits and were often deemed fit for work despite suffering, or recovering from, severe illnesses.
“People who are 50 and 60 plus, who have worked for 40 years, with all types of conditions from rheumatoid arthritis to acute mental health problems, to patients recovering from cancer,” she continued. “Often, people who have worked labour intensive jobs most of their lives will often develop illnesses associated with their jobs. When they come up to around 60 they will suffer from those types.”
Ms Peoples said CAB is on hand to help people apply for benefits, and to help them appeal the decision if they are turned down. The bureau helped over 300 Fermanagh appeal their benefits last year, with a 60-80 per cent success rate.
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