Collection

Households below average income (HBAI)

Information on the standard of living of the household population in the UK, focusing on the lower part of income distribution, as determined by disposable income and changes in income patterns over time.

Contents

The latest national statistics on households below average income (HBAI) produced by the Department for Work and Pensions were released on 13 June 2013 according to the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority.

Statistics and commentary give an insight into the standard of living of the household population in the UK, focusing on the lower part of income distribution, for the period up to the end of 2011/12. The latest release updates the statistics previously released on 14 June 2012.

Changes to the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) publication 2012/13

On 28 January 2014 we issued a Statistical Notice about proposed changes to the 2012/13 Households Below Average Income (HBAI) publication.

In order to focus our publication on commentary and analysis that aid interpretation, we propose to produce one report, including commentary, charts and summary tables instead of a separate First Release and report as is currently produced. All the existing tables contained within the PDF of the report will still be published as excel spreadsheets on the relevant HBAI statistics page, alongside the new summary tables.

Main points from the latest release

‘Relative’ low-income indicators

Children

In 2011/12, 17% of children (2.3 million) were in households in the UK with incomes below 60% of contemporary median net disposable household income before housing costs (BHC), and 27% (3.5 million) after housing costs (AHC).

Compared to 2010/11, this represents a fall of 0 percentage points (no change in numbers) on a BHC basis and a fall of 0 percentage points (no change in numbers) AHC.

Compared to 1998/99, this represents a fall of 9 percentage points (1.1million) on a BHC basis and a fall of 7 percentage points (0.9 million) AHC.

Working-age adults

In 2011/12, 15% of working-age adults (5.6 million) were in households in the UK with incomes below 60% of contemporary median net disposable household income BHC, and 21% (7.9 million) AHC.

Compared to 2010/11, this represents a rise of 0 percentage points (0.1 million) on a BHC basis and a rise of 0 percentage points (0.1 million) AHC.

Compared to 1998/99, this represents a rise of 1 percentage point (0.6 million) on a BHC basis and a rise of 2 percentage points (1.3 million) AHC.

Pensioners

In 2011/12, 16% of pensioners (1.9 million) were in households in the UK with incomes below 60% of contemporary median net disposable household income BHC, and 14% (1.6 million) AHC.

Compared to 2010/11, this represents a fall of 1 percentage point (0.1 million) on a BHC basis and a fall of 1 percentage point (0.1 million) AHC.

Compared to 1998/99, this represents a fall of 11 percentage points (0.9 million) on a BHC basis and a fall of 15 percentage points (1.4 million) AHC.

‘Absolute’ low-income indicators

HBAI uses variants of RPI to adjust for inflation to look at how incomes are changing over time in real terms. As described in the National Statistics first release and the HBAI statistical report, the use of different inflation measures has an effect on absolute low income figures.

Children

In 2011/12, 20% of children (2.6 million) were in households in the UK with incomes below 60% of 2010/11 median net disposable household income BHC, and 29% (3.8 million) AHC.

Compared to 2010/11, this represents a rise of 2 percentage points (0.3 million) on a BHC basis and a rise of 2 percentage points (0.3 million) AHC.

Compared to 1998/99, this represents a fall of 15 percentage points (2.0 million) on a BHC basis and a fall of 13 percentage points (1.7 million) AHC.

Working-age adults

In 2011/12, 17% of working-age adults (6.1 million) were in households in the UK with incomes below 60% of 2010/11 median net disposable household income BHC, and 22% (8.3 million) AHC.

Compared to 2010/11, this represents a rise of 1 percentage point (0.6 million) on a BHC basis and a rise of 1 percentage point (0.5 miliion) AHC.

Compared to 1998/99, this represents a fall of 3 percentage points (0.7 million) on a BHC basis and a fall of 2 percentage points (0.2million) AHC.

Pensioners

In 2011/12, 18% of pensioners (2.1 million) were in households in the UK with incomes below 60% of 2010/11 median net disposable household income BHC, and 15% (1.8 million) AHC.

Compared to 2010/11, this represents a rise of 0 percentage points (0.1million) on a BHC basis and a rise of 1 percentage point (0.1million) AHC.

Compared to 1998/99, this represents a fall of 21 percentage points (1.9million) on a BHC basis and a fall of 24 percentage points (2.2 million) AHC.

Coverage: United Kingdom

Next Release: May/June 2014

Accessing datasets: access arrangements for sensitive versions of DWP data

Find out about accessing sensitive versions of the households below average income, family resources survey and pensioners’ incomes data

Accessing archived HBAI statistics

Access archived HBAI statistics published before May 2010

Contacts and more information

There is contact information and more about DWP statistics on the Statistics at DWP page.

Documents

1. HBAI absolute low income: illustrative figures using CPI to adjust for inflation

   • 14 June 2013
   • Statistics

2. DWP Family and Household Income Statistics – adjusting for inflation: statistical notice

   • 13 June 2013
   • Statistics - national statistics

3. First release: households below average income (HBAI) statistics, June 2013

   • 13 June 2013
   • Statistics - national statistics

4. Households below average income (HBAI): 1994/95 to 2011/12

   • 13 June 2013
   • Statistics - national statistics

5. Changes to the households below average income (HBAI) statistics 2011/12: statistical note

   • 16 May 2013
   • Statistics

6. Households below average income: revision to 2008/09 and 2009/10 results

   • 1 May 2012
   • Statistics

7. Households below average income (HBAI): 1994/95 to 2010/11

   • 11 June 2012
   • Statistics - national statistics

8. First Release: Households Below Average Income (HBAI) statistics, June 2012

   • 14 June 2012
   • Statistics - national statistics

9. Households below average income (HBAI): 1994/95 to 2009/10

   • 12 May 2011
   • Statistics - national statistics

10. Households Below Average Income (HBAI): results of 2009/10 usage survey

    • 18 August 2011
    • Statistics

11. Households Below Average Income: technical note on severe child poverty indicator

    • 6 May 2011
    • Statistics

12. Households Below Average Income (HBAI): technical note on pensioner material deprivation

    • 7 March 2011
    • Statistics

13. Low-income dynamics

    • 23 September 2010
    • Statistics - national statistics

14. Households below average income (HBAI): 1994/95 to 2008/09

    • 20 May 2010
    • Statistics - national statistics

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