Benefit Data

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Benefit Data Overview

Our benefit datasets are sourced directly from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). These datasets provide detailed information on benefit claimants, including age bands and gender, at the most granular level available. This enables users to identify trends and analyse data by region or demographic group.

Data Anonymisation and Limitations

To comply with data protection regulations, the DWP introduces random errors into values under five to prevent the identification of individuals. As a result:

  • Some small values are shown as 0, leading to apparent gaps in the data.
  • Totals may not precisely match DWP’s aggregate figures when summing granular data.

For this reason, the data is best used for analysing trends over time or comparing areas, rather than for calculating exact numbers of claimants.

Latest Updates and Legislation

The DWP’s data collection and sharing practices align with the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR. Recent updates include enhanced reporting tools and adjustments for post-pandemic trends in benefit claims. The government has also committed to improving transparency through the Health and Disability White Paper 2023, which outlines reforms in benefit assessments and claimant support.

How to Use the Data

The datasets allow users to:

  1. Track trends in benefit claims by region or demographic.
  2. Analyse the impact of economic and policy changes on specific groups.
  3. Compare localised data to national averages for insights into regional variations.
Useful Links

For more detailed insights into benefit claimants at a local area level, explore our Geodemographics data product which provides extensive information linked to postcodes.

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