Hi All
Help wanted. I am looking for data on the actual cost of National Insurance benefits i.e. the benefits which fall within the frame of being available in return for contributions on a non-means tested basis and therefore are fundamentally based on pooling of risk or inter-generational transfer.
The figures I can find do not seem to distinguish between the costs of the NI entitlement and related means tested benefits which are social assistance in form so I can't find for example the cost of the basic NI old age pension as opposed to a cost which seems to be both for that and for means tested pension credits etc.
The figures I have, which in my view compound the insurance and means tested elements, are:
Pensions £81.9 billion
Sickness and incapacity benefits £32.3 billion.
Unemployment benefits £5.5 billion.
NI raises £101 billion so with the means tested elements taken out it may actually be making a surplus or I may be wholly wrong here.
Advice and guidance to more detailed figures much appreciated.
Thanks
David Byrne