The Cross Government Income Administrative Dataset 2019/20 is now available from ADR Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) is now receiving applications from accredited researchers to use the Cross Government Income Administrative Dataset (CGIAD) 2019/20 for public good research. NISRA is part of ADR Northern Ireland.

The CGIAD is a de-identified household level dataset containing income data from social security benefits, child benefits, housing benefits, earnings, tax credits and savings in Northern Ireland. It is predominantly an annual demographic snapshot (in this instance, reflecting the position in March/April 2020), with some annualized information for the 2019/20 financial year. The dataset cannot be linked to other data sources.

Relevant research themes

The CGIAD has been developed in order to advance research across a range of themes. It can offer an evidence base for policy development and decision making, as well as the monitoring of public policy in Northern Ireland. Specifically, the CGIAD will support research aligned with the Northern Ireland Department for Communities’ key outcomes, including:

• Delivering an anti-poverty strategy supported by evidence-based proposals
• Collaborating with other government departments and partners on cross-cutting issues - including homelessness, place and deprivation-based approaches, and employability - to deliver a sustainable and effective set of anti-poverty interventions
• Enhancing citizen-focused services and interventions through an ongoing process of customer insight, data analytics, research, and analysis.

Attend an online information session

The NISRA Research Support Unit is hosting an information session for researchers and other interested parties who wish to learn more about the CGIAD dataset. This will take place online on Thursday 12 December, 11:00 – 12:00.

The event will include a presentation outlining key features of the dataset, along with a question and answer session with members of the CGIAD project team.

Find out more and register

How to access the CGIAD data

Access to the CGIAD is limited to researchers and research teams with accredited researcher status under the Digital Economy Act 2017 (DEA) and subject to approval by the data owners and the UK Statistics Authority Research Accreditation Panel. The CGIAD dataset may be accessed in the NISRA Research Support Unit trusted research environment.

In the first instance, researchers should complete the Themed Datasets Initial Research Proposal Form and submit this to rsu@nisra.gov.uk. The form asks researchers to summarise the main aim and objectives of their proposed project, as well as the methodological approach that they are intending to use. Researchers must also include details of the data required (including a variable list with justification) and cohort required. Details of any public engagement activities planned as part of their project must also be included.

The NISRA Research Support Unit, in consultation with the data owners, will determine the feasibility of the project prior to the completion of a full application by the researcher(s). Ethical approval will also be required for each project, either through the research team’s university ethics committee or via the National Statistician’s Ethics Advisory Committee.

The Research Support Unit will support the research team throughout the application process. You can find the full information about applying for access to this data on the NISRA website:

• Read more on how to apply for approval
• Read more about the dataset.