In the year 2009, 8,060 households received municipal home-help service, an increase by 196 (2.5%) from the previous year and by 434 (5.7%) from the year 2007.  Nearly three of every four of these households were households of the elderly or 6,160 (76.4%).  A total of 7,691 individuals or 20.3% of inhabitants 65 years or older were living in these homes.  In the municipality of Reykjavík, 24.2% of that age group received home-help service. The average number of hours worked per household receiving municipal home-help service in the year 2009 was 118 (nearly 3 per week) and had the average number decreased by 7 hours from the year before.

A total of 5,994 households received municipal income support in 2009, an increase by 965 (16.1%) from the year before and by 1,714 (40%) from the year 2007. Households of single men without children (42.2%) and households of single women with children (29.3%) were as before the biggest groups receiving income support.

In households receiving income support in the year 2009 there were 10,427 individuals or 3.3% of inhabitants in the country, thereof were 3,892 children (17 years of age or younger) or 4.8% of all children in the country. In the year 2007 there were 7,997 individuals, 2.6% of inhabitants in the country, who lived in households receiving income support, thereof 3,284 children or 4.1% of all children in Iceland.

Municipal social services 2007-2009 - Statistical Series

Statistics