In contrast with the usual convention, working-age individuals are defined here as persons between 15 to 54 years of age. The reason for excluding the 55-64 age group is that many jobless households including persons in this age range are retired households which receive pension income. The empirical analysis also assumes that individuals generally do not combine the receipt of social assistance with unemployment benefits. That being said, in some countries, social assistance may act as a top-up to unemployment assistance benefits.