Please note that this press release was corrected 21 April 2017 at 09:53
A total of 6,996 households received municipal income support in 2015, a decrease by 753 (9.7%) from the year before. In the year 2014 the number of households receiving municipal income support decrease by 283 (3.6%) from the year before while in the year 2013 the number of households receiving municipal income support had increase by 306 (4.0%) from the year before. During the years 2007 to 2013 the average increase was 627 households pr. year.
Households of single men without children (44.3%) and households of single women with children (24.7%) were as previously the largest groups receiving income support. In the year 2015 nearly 38% of recipients of municipal income support were unemployed and thereof five of every six non-insured or 2,172 individuals.
Households receiving income support in the year 2015 were composed of 11,371 individuals or 3.4% of inhabitants in the country, thereof were 3,736 children (17 years of age or younger) or 4.7% of all children in the country. In the year 2014 there were 12,625 individuals, 3.8% of inhabitants in the country, living in households receiving income support, thereof 4,203 children or 5.3% of all children in Iceland.
One of every five 65 years and older received municipal home-help service
In the year 2015, 9,075 households received municipal home-help service. Four of every five of these households were households of the elderly or 7,283 (80.3%). That was an increase of 340 (0.7%) households from the year 2014. A total of 9,149 individuals or 19.9% of inhabitants 65 years or older were living in these households. In the municipality of Reykjavík 22% of that age group received home-help service.
Little increase in number of children enrolled in day care in private homes
In the year 2015, 1,718 children were enrolled in day care in private homes, an increase by 19 (1.1%) from the year before. This was 6,2% of children at the age of 0 to 5 years in the country. Roughly 6% of all children in the first year were enrolled in day care in private homes but more than 32% of children 1 year of age which are the age groups that have not reached the pre-primary school age.