The benefits statistical summary is a high level summary of the latest National Statistics on Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits.

From February 2018, the main statistical release document is published on a 6 monthly basis, in February and August each year. Data is also released quarterly via Stat-Xplore, Nomis and data tables where appropriate.

More detailed information about the statistics included in the summaries can be found using https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/login.xhtml" class="govuk-link">Stat-Xplore and https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/" class="govuk-link">Nomis.

We made improvements to the geography information in our statistics during 2018. The changes reflect 2011 Census Output Areas and allow us to adhere to the latest geographical boundaries as defined by https://www.ons.gov.uk/methodology/geography/ukgeographies/censusgeography" class="govuk-link">Office for National Statistics’ guidance.

The improvements are:

• residency based geographical breakdowns for Housing Benefits were refreshed in August and published on https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/login.xhtml" class="govuk-link">Stat-Xplore with data from April 2018
• new geographies for most of our Legacy Benefits were refreshed in November and published on both Stat-Xplore and https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/" class="govuk-link">Nomis with data from May 2018

We have no plans to update historic series. Read the DWP statistical geographies note for more information.

Data is released quarterly through:

• https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/login.xhtml" class="govuk-link">Stat-Xplore
• https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/" class="govuk-link">Nomis
• data tables

The statistical summary document is published on a 6 monthly basis in February and August each year. It contains a high level summary of the latest National Statistics on Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits.

Statistics on Income Support (IS) are now available on https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/login.xhtml" class="govuk-link">Stat-Xplore including improvements to the geography information. Figures from February 2013 are currently available, but the timeseries will be extended back to August 1999 over the coming Spring. Read our DWP statistical geographies note for more information about the improvements.

As part of a routine update, we have refreshed the reference file used to assign geographies to our statistics in Stat-Xplore. For most geographical outputs, this change has had no impact. However, for some Scottish Parliamentary Constituencies, the figures for May 2018 on Stat-Xplore have been revised slightly. Approximately 1% of all cases were found to be assigned to an incorrect Scottish Parliamentary Constituency.

We have made a methodological improvement to how we create statistics for new State Pension (nSP). The change from data at August 2018 will be reflected in the number of cases with a Protected Payment status, and account for an increase of approximately 3% in these types of cases.

Find further information about the statistics, including details on changes and revisions, in the background and methodology documents.

The statistical summary document is published on a 6-monthly basis in February and August each year. It contains a high level summary of the latest National Statistics on Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits.

National Statistics release of the main DWP-administered benefits via https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/login.xhtml" class="govuk-link">Stat-Xplore or supplementary tables where appropriate.

State Pension

During 2019, a new DWP computer system called “Get Your State Pension” came online to handle new State Pension claims. The number of State Pension claims being handled by the new system has been gradually building up, and at August 2020 there were approximately 760 cases in payment on the new system. We are working to develop new statistical datasets that will enable us to include these cases in our published statistics in the future. In due course we will announce further plans for their inclusion.

Further information can be found on the DWP benefits statistics collection page and in the “Welfare and Benefits” community on StatsUserNet.

Email stats-consultation@dwp.gov.uk if you have any comments or questions.

Also published

Also published as part of this release as data tables are statistics on:

• Maternity Allowance
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

More information

Find further information about the statistics, including details on changes and revisions, in the background and methodology documents.

Data on Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits is released quarterly through:

• https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/login.xhtml" class="govuk-link">Stat-Xplore
• https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/" class="govuk-link">NOMIS
• data tables

A statistical summary document is published on a 6 monthly basis in February and August each year. It contains a high level summary of the latest National Statistics on Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits.

Data on Stat-Xplore

The data on Stat-Xplore has been extended to include Jobseeker’s Allowance, Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance, and a timeseries for Income Support from August 1999.

Due to the improvements made to Stat-Xplore, May 2019 will be the last time NOMIS is updated for the datasets listed under “Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study” and August 2019 will be the last update of the “5% Sample Data”. We will remove both products from NOMIS from November 2019. Please contact alan.gibson@dwp.gov.uk if you have any comments about this.

Find further information about the statistics, including details on changes and revisions, in the background and methodology documents.

The statistical summary document is published on a 6-monthly basis in February and August each year. It contains a high level summary of the latest National Statistics on Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits.

National Statistics of the main DWP-administered benefits are released on https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/login.xhtml" class="govuk-link">Stat-Xplore or supplementary tables where appropriate.

Age and gender

We have made a minor methodological change to the production of statistics for the following benefits:

• Attendance Allowance (AA)
• Bereavement benefits (BB)
• Carer’s Allowance (CA)
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Housing Benefit (HB)
• Incapacity Benefit (IB)
• Income Support (IS)
• Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Pension Credit (PC)
• Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA)
• State Pension (SP)
• Widow’s Benefit (WB)

From February 2020 (changes to HB data apply from March 2020) we are using data from DWP’s Customer Information System (CIS) to verify and corroborate age and gender variables. This change has helped us to reduce the number of unknown values for age and gender and also to correct dates of birth where they were apparently incorrect.

CIS is a computer system used by DWP to store and keep up-to-date basic identifying information such as gender, addresses, dates of birth, National Insurance numbers.

State Pension

During 2019, a new DWP computer system called “Get Your State Pension” came online to handle new State Pension claims. The number of State Pension claims being handled by the new system has been gradually building up, and at February 2020 there were approximately 120 cases in payment on the new system. We are working to develop new statistical datasets that will enable us include these cases in our published statistics in the near future. Once we have quality assured the new data we will announce further plans for their inclusion.

Housing Benefit flows

From November 2020 we plan to publish Housing Benefit Flows datasets on Stat-Xplore. We will be able to provide on-flow and off-flow data for Housing Benefit on our Stat-xplore tool, offering enhanced functionality for our users. See the Housing Benefit flows publication for more information.

Bereavement Support Payment

The Bereavement Support Payment statistics published on this page are for April 2017 to March 2020.

During the quality assurance of BSP experimental official statistics, DWP statisticians have identified an issue with claims in payment figures and these data tables have been removed, but Table 1 showing claims received is still available.

Further information can be found on the DWP benefits statistics collection page and in the “Welfare and Benefits” community on StatsUserNet

Email stats-consultation@dwp.gov.uk if you have any com