DWP Statistical Summary
The DWP Statistical Summary brings together key National Statistics on DWP administered benefits and JSA (Jobseeker's Allowance) sanctions. To provide a more complete picture of DWP responsibility, statistics on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (administered by Local Authorities) and the Child Support Agency are also included.
On 23 January 2013, DWP opened a consultation on "People and households claiming Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment and other benefits: Plans for 2013-2017". 
The outcome of this consultation will shape the content and format of the Statistical Summary through to 2017 and beyond.
During the quality assurance of the August 2012 National Statistics on State Benefits an issue was discovered with the allocation of benefit claimants to geographical areas. As geographical breakdowns are commonly requested by many users, the release of the statistics was postponed whilst the issue is resolved. The corrected August 2012 statistics have been published on 21 March.
In August 2012 DWP announced that the frequency of the publication of the Statistical Summary would temporarily change to allow DWP to focus on preparation of a new, improved dissemination tool and the development of new series for Personal Independence Payment and Universal Credit. Following the delayed release of August 2012 statistics on 21 March 2013, the frequencies for all publications, excluding Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit, will revert to the original schedule. The publication frequencies are listed below:
- The early estimate series will continue to be published monthly, using the existing timetable.
- The series detailing DWP administered benefits will be published on a quarterly schedule, with the next release occurring in May 2013.
- Small area (ward, Lower Super Output Area and Census Output Area) statistics will move to a quarterly schedule in line with the Tabulation Tool releases.
- The Housing Benefit/ Council Tax Benefit series will be published on a quarterly basis, showing monthly figures. Each quarterly release will contain three sets of the standard tables, one for each relevant month.
- Series which are released independently in other publications will continue to be published as normal. The following series will continue using the normal publication frequency: Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit and Child Support Agency.
The Summary is published monthly, containing Official Statistics giving early estimates of inactive benefit caseloads. Each quarter (in May, August, November and February), the Summary is a larger document containing the detail of DWP administered benefits along with National Statistics on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, JSA sanctions and the Child Support Agency.
Alongside the Statistical Summary, there are a large number of tables which enable the user to delve in to the detail. These are provided to the user as:
- The DWP Tabulation Tool - for DWP administered benefits and Employment Programmes the Tabulation Tool provides the user with an interactive tool to select one of thousands of possible tabulations. This Tabulation Tool now contains up to date flows figures for all key benefits.
- Stat-Xplore - provides users with an interactive visualisation tool to produce charts, graphs and tables, downloadable in a number of different formats. This tool is an experimental release. Changes and enhancements to the tool will be made in future releases, however the statistics within the tool should be considered robust. The tool contains data on Housing Benefit claimants only at this stage.
- To widen accessibility and understanding of context, DWP also publish statistics via Nomis (https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/Default.asp). This provides easy access for users of other labour market statistics.
- Separate detailed tables on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit and Claimants on out of work benefits (as a "one-click" on the Working Age Client Group Tabulation Tool);
- Tables broken down by Lower Super Output Area (LSOA) and Census Output Area
- Other tables and background information via links on the Tabulation Tool pages (e.g. links to long time series spreadsheets; descriptions of the benefit.)
The Summary can be used for:
- Obtaining the definitive numbers of people claiming DWP benefits
- Exploring the characteristics of those claiming benefit
- Evaluating DWP programmes and benefits. However, users should be aware that administrative changes in the benefit system can and do affect the published numbers. Therefore, users should read footnotes carefully.
The "Notes" section of the latest Statistical Summary notifies users of changes planned in future publications. It also describes the detail of the issues, changes and revisions which form part of this Statistical Summary.
The quarterly National Statistics on benefit claimants produced by the Department for Work and Pensions were released on 21 March 2013 according to the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority.
The key points from the latest releases are:
- There were 5.7 million working age benefit claimants at August 2012. This is a decrease of 95 thousand in the year to August 2012.
- The number of working age claimants of ESA and incapacity benefits totals 2.52 million in August 2012, a fall of 65 thousand in the year since August 2011.
- The number of lone parents claiming Income Support (IS) decreased by 50 thousand to 545 thousand in the year to August 2012.
- At August 2012, there were 2.52 million claimants of Pension Credit (3.07 million including partners).
- At November 2012, the total number of people claiming Housing Benefit was 5.05 million, with 5.90 million claiming Council Tax Benefit.
- At the end of January 2013, the working age Income Support lone parents (ISLP) early estimate was 505 thousand.
- At the end of January 2013 the working age early estimates of Employment and Support Allowance / incapacity benefits (ESA/IB/SDA) claimants was 2.47 million.
The United Kingdom Statistics Authority has designated these statistics as National Statistics, in accordance with the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 and signifying compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
Designation can be broadly interpreted to mean that the statistics:
- meet identified user needs;
- are well explained and readily accessible;
- are produced according to sound methods, and
- are managed impartially and objectively in the public interest.
Once statistics have been designated as National Statistics it is a statutory requirement that the Code of Practice shall continue to be observed.
Detailed policy statements and statement of compliance with the pre-release access to official statistics order 2008 are given below:
Detailed policy and methodology relating to the Statistical Summary:
An ongoing questionnaire, enabling DWP to target future consultations at interested users; shaping the future direction of statistics development to address user needs; and helping ensure value for money, whilst giving users a structured way of expressing their views is available at:
Statistical Summary Questionnaire 
Completed questionnaires can be returned by e-mail to stats-consultation@dwp.gsi.gov.uk or by post to the following address:
Stuart Grant
Information, Governance and Security Directorate
Department for Work and Pensions
Room BP5201
Benton Park Road
Longbenton
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE98 1YX
Results of the questionnaire will allow DWP to gain further understanding of users and what they see as important with regards to the statistics produced. The hope is that users who are experiencing difficulty will fill the questionnaire in as a structured way of giving feedback. Whilst this won't give a representative view of how users see the statistics, it will certainly give an idea of areas of improvement and help with planning of future developments.
DWP will use the results of the questionnaire to update the uses and users document on an annual basis. Provided DWP get enough responses, the aim is to publish a short paper on uses, including any customer comments (perhaps as a "Focus on" article in the Statistical Summary).
Users can also join the "Welfare and Benefit Statistics" community at: http://www.statsusernet.org.uk.
To access the latest full quarterly release click here:
To access the latest smaller, monthly release, click here:
These documents contain key numbers/ charts and links to detailed tables.
Previous releases of the Statistical Summary can be obtained here
For more information and detailed statistics on particular components of the Summary, please use the links below:
- Detailed tables on benefit caseloads and employment programmes
- Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit
- Official Statistics on Early Estimates of caseloads on inactive benefits
- Small area breakdowns of benefit caseloads(additionally Census Output Area numbers for England and Wales)
- State Pension, Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowance, Income Support, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance and Carer's Allowance caseload figures as at
November 2009
and
February 2010 and at
August 2010 by Parliamentary Constituency - 2010 boundaries - Numbers of benefit claimants split by May 2011 Scottish Parliamentary Constituency for February 2011
These other DWP statistical releases may also be of interest to Summary users:
Users should note that the equalisation of State Pension age is now affecting these statistics. This detailed note explains the effect on the numbers and particularly on the percentage of population series.
Referrals to the new employment programme “Work Programme” began from June 2011. In the run up to that launch, a new package of Get Britain Working support measures were introduced. In tandem with these changes, referrals to legacy employment programmes ceased. Final statistics for these programmes have now been released. The existing Tabulation Tools will remain available for historical analysis. For statistics relating to these new programmes see: Pre-Work Programme and Get Britain Working and the new Employment Programme.
Coverage: Great Britain
(Similar statistics relating to Northern Ireland, see Section 10 in the Notes section of the Summary for information.)
Geographic Breakdown:
- GB in the summary, Local Authority and Parliamentary Constituency for most data via the Tabulation Tool, and small areas for some breakdowns.
Next release date for early estimates for working age inactive benefit client groups: 17 April 2013
Next release date for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit National Statistics and JSA sanctions: 15 May 2013
Next release date for benefit claimants: 15 May 2013
