A total of 7,736 households received municipal income support in 2012, an increase by 21 (0.3%) from the year before. That is a trend break from the years before. From the year 2007 to 2011 the average increase was 860 households a year or from 4,280 households in the year 2007 to 7.715 in the year 2011. Households of single men without children (43.0%) and households of single women with children (27.1%) were as before the biggest groups receiving income support. In the yerar 2012 nearly half (48.3%) of recipients of municipal income support were unemployed and thereof nearly two third non-insured or 2,270 individuals.

In households receiving income support in the year 2012 there were 12,586 individuals or 3.9% of inhabitants in the country, thereof were 4,190 children (17 years of age or younger) or 5.3% of all children in the country. In the year 2011 there were 12,540 individuals, 3.9% of inhabitants in the country, who lived in households receiving income support, thereof 4,098 children or 5.1% of all children in Iceland.

In the year 2012, 8,387 households received municipal home-help service. More than four of every five of these households were households of the elderly or 6,800 (81.1%). That was an increase of 29 (0.3%) households from the year 2011. A total of 8,511 individuals or 20.5% of inhabitants 65 years or older were living in these homes. In the municipality of Reykjavík, little more than 24% of that age group received home-help service. The average number of hours worked per household receiving municipal home-help service in the year 2012 was 116 (2,5 hours per week) and had the average number increased by 5 hours from the year before. Nearly 34% of hours wear help on necessary practical duties only but the rest included personal service also.

In the year 2012 1,945 children were enrolled in daycare in private homes, an decrease by 112 (-5,4%) from the year before. That was little less than 7% of children at the age of 0 to 5 years in the country. There of were little more than 5% of all children in the first year and nearly 37% of children 1 year of age, but those are children that have not reached the pre-primary school age.

Municipal social services 2012 - Statistical Series