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Summary

This consultation will run untilÌý31ÌýMarchÌý2026ÌýforÌýproposal 1 andÌýtoÌý12 May 2026 forÌýproposals 2 to 5.Ìý

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) plan toÌýchangeÌýthe scheduling and alignment and reduce the frequency of some of our routine administrative-based benefit Official Statistics, including Universal Credit (UC).Ìý

We would like your input as users on proposalsÌý1 to 5Ìýbelow.Ìý

These proposals are intended toÌýimprove sequencing of our benefitÌýOfficialÌýStatisticsÌýin a way that makes sense to users,ÌýwhilstÌýensuringÌýwe can redirect some resources to enableÌýour statistical teamsÌýto deliver required development work to support transformation andÌýrespond to emerging policy priorities through development of new statistics and by providing additional context drawing on a wider range of source data to better inform the story.

Background

This consultation sets out the rationale for each proposed change and invites feedback fromÌýusers. The proposals cover statistical releases on °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï and their corresponding datasets (either onÌýÌýor supplementary ODS (OpenDocument Spreadsheet) tables). All previously publishedÌýOfficialÌýStatistics will remain available to users.Ìý

The proposals set out in this document are underpinned by the principles of the UK Statistics Authority’sÌý, ensuring that our outputs continue toÌýdemonstrateÌýtrustworthiness, upholdÌýqualityÌýand deliverÌývalueÌýto users. The rationale for these proposals is grounded in a set of strategic drivers that align closely with the ambitions of the DWP 2030 Strategy. As the department moves forward with major reforms – including the child poverty strategy, transformation of health and disability benefits, and changes to pension provision – it is essential that ourÌýOfficialÌýStatistics evolve at the same time.

These drivers reflect the need to ensure our outputsÌýremainÌýrelevant, coherent, and sustainable in a changing policy and operational landscape, while also supporting the department’s broader goals around digital transformation, efficiency, and user-centred delivery.

Overview of proposals

±Ê°ù´Ç±è´Ç²õ²¹±ôÌý1Ìý

Reduce the frequency ofÌýUniversal CreditÌýstatistics from monthly to quarterly andÌýimproveÌýalignmentÌýof key metrics.ÌýÌýÌý

±Ê°ù´Ç±è´Ç²õ²¹±ôÌý2

AlignÌýthe timing ofÌýDWP Benefit StatisticsÌý(including Benefit Combinations) toÌýfinancial years, with a reduction in frequency from quarterly releases and moving to an annual compendium release in Autumn.

±Ê°ù´Ç±è´Ç²õ²¹±ôÌý3

ReduceÌýthe frequency ofÌýHousing Benefit Speed of Processing statisticsÌýtoÌýannual rather than quarterly.ÌýÌý

±Ê°ù´Ç±è´Ç²õ²¹±ôÌý4

Reduce the frequency ofÌýHousing Benefit Debt recovery statisticsÌýtoÌýannual, aligned toÌýfinancial years, rather than biannual.ÌýÌý

±Ê°ù´Ç±è´Ç²õ²¹±ôÌý5

Reduce the frequency of theÌýNational Insurance Numbers Allocated to non-UK overseas nationalsÌýstatisticsÌýtoÌýannual,Ìýaligned toÌýfinancial years, rather than quarterly.

How to reply

Send your responses byÌýTuesday 31ÌýMarchÌý2026Ìý(for proposal 1) orÌýTuesday 12 May 2026 (for proposals 2 to 5):Ìý

by email to:Ìýbenefits.statistics@dwp.gov.ukÌý

or write to:

What happens next?

We invite you to review and provide input on the proposed changes outlined in this document. Your feedback is essential in ensuring that final decisions reflect the needs and priorities of the users of our statistics across DWP.ÌýÌý

While we welcome feedback on the full range of statistical releases produced byÌýDWPÌýat any time, for the purposes of this engagementÌýexerciseÌýwe would be grateful if you could focus your comments on the specific proposals outlined in this document. This will help us gather the most relevant insights to inform immediate decisions about the future shape and sustainability of our outputs.Ìý

All proposals will be progressed through theÌýStatistical Work Programme, with changes subject toÌýapproval fromÌýDWP’sÌýChiefÌýStatistician. This approach adheres to theÌýUK Statistics Authority’sÌý.

Confidentiality and data protectionÌý

Information provided in response to this statistical notice, including personal information, may be subject to publication or release to other parties or to disclosureÌýin accordance withÌýthe access to information regimes (including the Freedom of Information Act 2000).Ìý

It would be helpful if you could explain to us why you regard the information you have provided as confidential. If we receive a request for disclosure of the information we will take full account of your explanation, but we cannot give an assurance that confidentiality can beÌýmaintainedÌýin all circumstances.

Proposal 1:ÌýUniversal Credit statisticsÌý(including sanctions)

Feedback isÌýinvitedÌýon proposalsÌýto change the frequency ofÌýUniversal CreditÌýstatistical releases from monthly to quarterly.ÌýMonthly data will continue to be made available via , w¾±³Ù³ó UC caseload, households, claims and starts information brought into sequencing alignment.ÌýÌý

This has the benefit of better addressing the accuracy of caseload figures,Ìýand alsoÌýimproves coherence of the release, bringing greater consistency and ease of understanding around the datesÌýpertaining toÌýthe figures presented, noting this will result in a slightly longer time lag for some measures. We aim to streamline the process for users by aligning reference points across Universal Credit claims, starts, people, and household statistical series. This change will also result in the removal of provisional estimates, reduce the need for frequent revisions, and deliver more robust final statistics.Ìý

This would mean changes to the Universal Credit Official Statistics as follows:

Series	Current planned May 2026 release	Proposed May 2026 release
Claims	Data up to April 2026	Finalised data up to February 2026
Starts	Data up to April 2026	Finalised data up to February 2026
People	Provisional April 2026 data, Finalised March 2026 data	Finalised data up to February 2026
Households	Data up to February 2026	Data up to February 2026 (unchanged)

Statistics would then be updated on a quarterly basis in August, November, February, and May in line with the existing release timetable, with a 3 further months’ worth of data added for each measure per release.Ìý

This proposed change aligns with our strategic DWP statistical plans and will enable us to redirect significant resources towards priority Universal Credit statistical developments (see release strategy), delivering greater value for our users.

±Ê°ù´Ç±è´Ç²õ²¹±ôÌý2: DWP Benefits Statistics and Benefit Combination Statistics

Current Publication Schedule

DWP Benefits StatisticsÌýare currently published as a biannual HTML statistical summary in February and August. Supporting datasets are released quarterly toÌý.ÌýBenefit Combinations StatisticsÌýfollowÌýthe same schedule.

Proposed Change

We propose streamlining both the HTML and Stat-Xplore releases to an annual schedule aligned withÌýfinancial yearÌýreporting. This would enable delivery of higher-value insights and better alignment with user needs and strategic priorities. The new release would be a financial-year-based compendium covering the full DWPÌýbenefitÌýlandscape, published in Autumn with data up to the previous March. Given the current lag of around 6 months is likely to remain necessary for robust and safe production of these statistics, the publication lag is likely to be at least 6 months, for Autumn release, but willÌýtake into accountÌýwider timing considerations.

Rationale

Improving coherence and comparability

Aligning data quarters with theÌýfinancial yearÌý(March, June, September, December) will improve comparability and coherence. Current caseload data (February, May, August, November) obscures the impact of annualÌýuprating. The proposed schedule matches the approach used in major releases like theÌýDWP Annual Report and Accounts.

Improving delivery

An annual releaseÌýmayÌýalso incorporate insights from separate statistical publications such as theÌýAnnual DWP Benefits Abstract, andÌýWinter Fuel Payments. While these wouldÌýremainÌýstandalone releases, the compendium would offer a unified, accessible view of DWPÌýbenefitÌýactivity,ÌýcaseloadÌýand value.

Improving value

Covering 17 benefits, this release demands broadÌýexpertise. An annual schedule allows deeper understanding of data,ÌýpolicyÌýand operations, all of which is essential forÌýdelivering onÌýthe extensive list of requested improvements and expansions to the statistics. The extended production timeline supports more ambitious developments without compromising data quality.

New annual release schedule

The statistics release wouldÌýbeÌýpublishedÌýeach Autumn, covering data to the end of the previousÌýfinancial yearÌý(for exampleÌýAutumn 2026 release would coverÌýfinancial yearÌý2025 to 2026).ÌýBenefit Combinations StatisticsÌýwillÌýalign with this schedule.ÌýWinter Fuel Payment StatisticsÌýandÌýtheÌýAbstract of DWP Benefit Rate StatisticsÌýmayÌýalso be publishedÌýat the same time, enhancing coherence across pensioner-related statistics such as State Pension and Pension Credit.

±Ê°ù´Ç±è´Ç²õ²¹±ôÌý3: Housing Benefit speed of processing

Current Publication ScheduleÌý

Housing Benefit Speed of Processing statisticsÌýare currently released on a quarterly basis in January, April,ÌýJulyÌýand October on °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï. An accompanying statistical bulletin is released alongside the statistical data tables each quarter. The statistics have a 4-month lag, for example, data covering quarter 3 ofÌýfinancial yearÌýending 2024 (October 2024 to December 2024) were released on 30ÌýApril 2025.Ìý

Proposed Change

We are considering the ongoing value in continuing this series, and if this is established we propose a reduction to annual frequency. Implementation of a new more timely statistical data feed is expected to improve lag times and so if there is an ongoing requirement, we propose an annual release in July, covering data to the end of the latest financial year.

Rationale

It is believed the primary value of these statistics may be for internal monitoring purposes. We are seeking views from users on whether there is a continuing external need for these statistics and if so, how they are used and what function they serve. If this establishes a need to continue publication of this series then moving to annual release and shifting the release dates would enable us to explore aligning the financial year end reporting periods with wider benefit statistics releases, providing more coherence. In the long term it would also enable statisticians more time to maintain and develop the statistics, for example with the imminent work to quality assure and develop statistical datasets using the new more timely statistical data source.

±Ê°ù´Ç±è´Ç²õ²¹±ôÌý4: Housing Benefit Debt RecoveryÌýÌý

Current publication schedule

Housing Benefit Debt Recovery statisticsÌýare published biannually, in March and September. The September publication includes data for the fullÌýfinancial year, with the March publicationÌýcontainingÌýinformation for the first two quarters of theÌýfinancial year.ÌýÌý

Proposed change

We are considering the ongoing value in continuing this series, and if this is established, we propose a reduction to annual frequency. We plan to cease the March release and move to publishing an annual release in September, which would provide data for the full financial year. We also plan to explore if it would be possible to align the release dates and financial year publication time periods with the proposed annual benefits statistical release.Ìý

Rationale

It is believed the primary value of these statistics may be for internal monitoring purposes. We are seeking views from users on whether there is a continuing external need for these statistics and if so, how they are used and what function they serve. If this establishes a need to continue publication of this series then moving to an annual release in September would be more coherent with the annual benefit release and allow comparison of financial year data. Currently the March release only provides data for the first half of the financial year and can be amended by local authorities (LAs) which often results in revisions in the September release. We would therefore explore if the March release was still deemed necessary. Publishing one final release in September would enable us to provide a complete set of final statistics and in the long term would allow us more time to focus on developing the statistics and meeting user requirements.

±Ê°ù´Ç±è´Ç²õ²¹±ôÌý5:ÌýNational Insurance numbersÌýallocatedÌýto non-UK overseas nationalsÌýÌý

Current publication schedule:Ìý

National insurance number statisticsÌýare published quarterly in February, May,ÌýAugustÌýand November.Ìý

Proposed change

We plan to reduce the frequency of this publication from quarterly to annual onÌýa financial yearÌýbasis.ÌýÌý

Rationale

Although these statistics are part of the cross-government suite of migration statistics, including the Office for National Statistics (ONS) headline migration statisticsÌýÌý(released biannually in May and November) the national insurance number statistics cannot be used as a measure of migration, but instead provide statistics on DWP’s accountability over its policy responsibility for the issuing of National Insurance numbers to non-UK overseas Nationals.ÌýÌý

The statistics are currently released quarterly but since ONS only publishÌýtheir headline long term migration statistics biannually then it is questionable as to why DWP need to publishÌýthese statistics on a more regular basis.ÌýÌý

Reducing the frequency to annual is not expected toÌýimpact onÌýpublic accountability to the allocation ofÌýnational insurance numbers, andÌýwould also enable statisticians more time to meet user requirements and support the transition to cloud-based solutions.ÌýÌý

Given national insurance number statistics are not intended as a measure of migration and are not a good proxy for migration, and other statistical releases from other departments provide the view of migration, we would like to explore whether there is value in alignment of national insurance number statistics to wider migration releases, or if the greater value lies in financial year reporting more in alignment with wider DWP Official Statistics.