DWP Statistical Summary
The DWP Statistical Summary brings together key National Statistics on DWP administered benefits and JSA (Jobseeker's Allowance) sanctions and vacancies. 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.
The frequency of publication of the Statistical Summary is temporarily changing to allow DWP to focus on preparation of a new, improved dissemination tool and the development of new series for the Personal Independence Payment and Universal Credit. These changes will take effect from the September 2012 Summary onwards. The publication frequencies are listed below:
- 1 The early estimate series will continue to be published monthly, using the existing timetable.
- 2 The Housing Benefit/ Council Tax Benefit series will be published quarterly, with the next release in November 2012. The time series tables will be updated with three months’ statistics; whilst the single month tables will show the relevant single month. For example, in November 2012, the time series tables will be updated with June – August 2012 statistics. Tables which show the latest month will be updated with August 2012 statistics.
- 3 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: Jobcentre Plus vacancies (although, see the Focus On… article in the August 2012 Summary), Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit and Child Support Agency.
- 4 The remaining series will be published on a six monthly schedule, with the next release occurring in February 2013. As all these series are published via the Tabulation Tool, the six monthly Tabulation Tool release will include two sets of quarterly tables. Hence, in February 2012, DWP will release Tabulation Tools for both May 2012 and August 2012. However, the Statistical Summary will focus only on the most recent quarter.
- 5 Small area (ward, Lower Super Output Area and Census Output Area) statistics will move to a six monthly schedule in line with the Tabulation Tool releases.
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 also contains National Statistics on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. Every six months, the Summary is a larger document containing the detail of DWP administered benefits, JSA sanctions, Jobcentre Plus vacancies 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.
- 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)
- 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 latest quarterly National Statistics on benefit claimants, labour market decisions and vacancies produced by the Department for Work and Pensions were released on 15 August 2012 according to the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority. The latest monthly release was on 18 July 2012.
The key points from the latest releases are:
- There were 5.9 million working age benefit claimants at February 2012. This is an increase of 116 thousand in the year to February 2012.
- The number of working age claimants of ESA and incapacity benefits totals 2.56 million in February 2012, a fall of 21 thousand in the year since February 2011.
- The number of lone parents claiming Income Support (IS) decreased by 30 thousand to 584 thousand in the year to February 2012.
- At February 2012, there were 2.62 million claimants of Pension Credit (3.20 million including partners).
- At May 2012, the total number of people claiming Housing Benefit was 5.03 million, with 5.92 million claiming Council Tax Benefit.
- At the end of June 2012, the working age Income Support lone parents (ISLP) early estimate was 565 thousand.
- At the end of June 2012, the working age early estimates of Employment and Support Allowance / incapacity benefits (ESA/IB/SDA) claimants was 2,510 thousand.
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).
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: 12 September 2012
Next release date for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit National Statistics: 14 November 2012
Next release date for benefit claimants and labour market decisions: 14 November 2012
