Official Statistics

Statistical release: January to March 2026 (quarter 4, financial year 2025 to 2026)

Updated 29 July 2026

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Please note: This is the last release of the Housing Benefit Speed of Processing (HB SoP) official statistics. For more information, see section 6. Housing Benefit (HB) is an income related benefit that is intended to help meet housing costs for rented accommodation. 

This summary contains statistics on the average time taken (speed of processing) to process new HB claims and change of circumstances to existing HB claims for Great Britain (GB). The average used is the mean and is measured in calendar days, rounded to the nearest day. 

The latest statistics in this release cover figures from January 2026 to March 2026, which is quarter 4 (Q4) for the financial year ending (FYE) 2026. The narrative in this bulletin focuses on quarterly time periods. Further data can be found in the accompanying data tables which contains monthly, quarterly and timeseries data (in quarters) from Q1 FYE 2012. 

Reference to rolling average figures is used in this bulletin. This can be thought of as a 12-month moving average and it helps to smooth seasonality and illustrate trends over time. Rolling average figures are calculated for each FYE quarterly time point by using the figures for the relevant time point and the previous 3 quarters. For example, the latest rolling average time point reflected in this release for Q4 FYE 2026 is calculated using quarterly figures for the previous year from April 2025 to March 2026. For more information on this, please see the background information note.

1. Main stories

The main stories for Q4 FYE 2026 (January 2026 to March 2026) are: 

• the average speed of processing for new HB claims in the latest quarter is 21 calendar days – this compares to 20 calendar days for quarter 4 a year earlier

• the average speed of processing for a change of circumstance to an existing HB claim is 4 calendar days in the latest quarter – this compares to 3 calendar days for the same quarter a year earlier

• the volume of new HB claims processed in the latest quarter is 110,000 – this compares to 110,000 for the same quarter a year earlier

• the volume of change of circumstances to an existing HB claim processed in the latest quarter is 1.9 million – this compares to 2.9 million for the same quarter a year earlier

2. Average speed of processing

Average quarterly speed of processing at GB level by claim type, with rolling average figures: Q4 FYE 2013 to Q4 FYE 2026

Note: Rolling average figures are included for each FYE quarterly time point to smooth seasonality and illustrate the trend over time.

The average time taken to process a new HB claim during the latest quarter was 21 calendar days. 

Historically, the rolling average figure for speed of processing for new HB claims showed a very gradual decreasing trend to Q4 FYE 2019, followed by a steeper fall to Q1 FYE 2021. From Q2 FYE 2021, the rolling average speed of processing followed an increasing trend, reaching a high at Q3 FYE 2023. This coincided with changes to operational processes, including the reallocation of resource, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic conditions. Since then, the rolling average figures show a slight decreasing trend to Q1 FYE 2025 but have since increased steadily and is comparable with the level at Q3 FYE 2023. 

The average time taken to process a change of circumstance to an existing HB claim during the latest quarter was 4 calendar days. 

Rolling average figures for speed of processing times for change of circumstances to existing HB claims peaked in Q2 FYE 2014, then steadily decreased to its lowest point at Q3 FYE 2021. Since then, the rolling average figures showed a slight increasing trend to Q1 FYE 2024 and has remained relatively stable. 

It is useful to note that in Q4 of each year, the volume of change of circumstances to existing HB claims increases since the previous quarter, due to it being the end of the financial year before the uprating of rent. However, the average number of days to process those claims decreases because local authorities (LAs) tend to allocate extra resource to process these changes. In the other quarters, the volume of change of circumstances to existing HB claims decrease and have a higher average speed of processing. 

Focusing on monthly average speed of processing times allows us to view in-quarter variation. In Q4 FYE 2026, the monthly average speed of processing (in calendar days) of new HB claims was: 

• 23 calendar days for January 

• 20 calendar days for February 

• 21 calendar days for March 

In Q4 FYE 2026, the monthly average speed of processing (in calendar days) for change of circumstances to existing HB claims was: 

• 6 calendar days for January 

• 3 calendar days for February 

• 3 calendar days for March

3. Volumes of new HB claims and change of circumstances to existing HB claims 

On average, LAs process a greater number of change of circumstances to existing HB claims than new HB claims. 

Volume of HB Claims in GB, Q4 FYE 2026 

Type of Claim	Number of Claims processed	Proportion of Claims Processed
New HB Claims	110,000	6%
Change of Circumstances to existing HB Claims	1.9 million	94%

During the latest quarter there were 2 million HB claims processed. 110,000 (6%) were new HB claims and 1.9 million (94%) were change of circumstances to existing HB claims. This compares to 110,000 (4%) new HB claims and 2.9 million (96%) change of circumstances to existing HB claims in the same quarter a year earlier.

Total quarterly number of new HB claims processed and rolling average volumes: Q4 FYE 2013 to Q4 FYE 2026

Note: Rolling average figures are included to smooth seasonality and illustrate the trend over time.

During the latest quarter there were 110,000 new HB claims processed, which is an increase of 4,700 (4%) since last quarter, and an increase of 2,300 (2%) when compared to a year earlier. 

Rolling average figures showed a decreasing trend from Q3 FYE 2013 up until the figure hit a low point at Q4 FYE 2022. This has been followed by a gradual increasing trend. 

It should be noted that the number of new HB claims processed is not comparable with the DWP HB caseload statistics. The total number of claims processed in these statistics include all HB claims processed regardless of outcome, whereas HB caseload statistics are HB claims which are live and in payment. This means that the numbers and trends described in this release may be different to those described in the HB caseload statistics.

Total quarterly number of change of circumstances to existing HB claims processed and rolling average volumes: Q4 FYE 2013 to Q4 FYE 2026

Note: Rolling average figures are included to smooth seasonality and illustrate the trend over time.

During the latest quarter there were 1.9 million changes of circumstances to existing HB claims processed. This is an increase of 1.1 million (145%) since last quarter and a decrease of 1.1 million (37%) when compared to the same quarter a year earlier. 

Historical rolling average figures showed an increasing trend until Q2 FYE 2016, which then decreased to Q1 FYE 2023. The trend then remained relatively stable to Q3 FYE 2025 before decreasing to the latest quarter. 

It is useful to note that in Q4 of each year, the volume of change of circumstances to existing HB claims increases sharply, due to the end of the financial year before the uprating of rent.

Percentage of claims processed by type (rolling average figures): Q4 FYE 2013 to Q4 FYE 2026

Note: Figures are based on year-end data. Please see our background methodology note for more information about how we calculate rolling average figures. 

Since Q4 FYE 2013, there have been a greater proportion of change of circumstances to existing HB claims processed compared with new HB claims. Rolling average figures show a very gradual decrease in the percentage of new claims processed when compared with change of circumstances until Q1 FYE 2021. The proportions remained relatively stable until Q4 FYE 2022, where the proportion of new claims when compared to change of circumstances showed a gradual increasing trend. From Q4 FYE 2024 to Q3 FYE 2025 this trend stabilised but has since shown a gradual increase to the latest quarter. 

The changes in volume of both new HB claims and change of circumstances to existing HB claims are due to the impact of the Universal Credit (UC) roll-out, which has also affected figures reported at the LA level. The rollout of UC was completed in December 2018 and now majority of new claims for housing costs are processed through UC across GB and only claims made in particular circumstances are eligible for HB. 

Over time volumes of both new HB claims and change of circumstances to existing HB claims have changed at different rates. This is due to the change in the types of claims being processed. For example, changes to a claimant’s circumstances may lead to a claimant being moved to UC, however, there are a small number of people that are still able to apply for HB, including pensioners, who have fewer changes to declare, and working age claimants who are in specified or temporary accommodation. Read about who can get Housing Benefit.

4. Average speed of processing by Local Authority 

Quarterly average number of days to process new HB claims and change of circumstances to existing HB claims can be illustrated at the LA level for GB. For a more detailed breakdown see table 1 of the accompanying data tables. 

Average speed of processing at local authority level for new HB claims: Q4 FYE 2026

Note: LAs will be shaded grey in the above map when data is missing or omitted. 

Details for the average speed of processing for individual LAs can be seen in table 1 of the accompanying data tables.

On average a new HB claim takes longer to process than a change of circumstance to an existing HB claim. Detailed figures in the accompanying data tables show greater variability for new HB claims in comparison to change of circumstances to existing HB claims. 

The quarterly average number of days to process new HB claims at the LA level ranged from 4 to 77 calendar days during Q4 FYE 2026: 

• 142 (41%) of LAs took on average between 4 to 16 calendar days 

• 140 (40%) of LAs took on average between 17 to 24 calendar days 

• 66 (19%) of LAs took on average between 25 to 77 calendar days 

Variations between the average number of days that each LA takes to process a new HB claim or a change of circumstance to an existing HB claim should be seen in context with changes relating to operational processes, including conversions of computer systems and LA mergers.

Average speed of processing at local authority level for change of circumstances to existing HB claims: Q4 FYE 2026

Note: LAs will be shaded grey in the above map when data is missing or omitted. 

Details for the average speed of processing for individual LAs can be seen in table 1 of the accompanying data tables. 

The quarterly average number of days to process change of circumstances to existing HB claims at the LA level ranged from 1 to 18 calendar days during Q4 FYE 2026: 

• 277 (79%) of LAs had a quarterly average number of 1 to 4 calendar days 

• 61 (17%) of LAs took on average between 5 to 9 calendar days 

• 10 (3%) LA took an average of 10 to 18 calendar days

5. Average speed of processing and cases of new HB claims and changes of circumstances to existing HB claims by working age and pension age 

Average speed of processing for new HB claims and changes of circumstances to existing HB claims by working age and pension age: Q4 FYE 2026

The average time taken to process a new HB claim in the latest quarter is 21 days. This comprises of an average time of: 

• 20 days for working age claimants 

• 23 days for pension age claimants 

For change of circumstances to existing claims, the average speed of processing is 4 days in the latest quarter. This comprises of an average time of: 

• 6 days for working age claimants 

• 3 days for pension age claimants

Volumes of new HB claims and changes of circumstances to existing HB claims by working age and pension age: Q4 FYE 2026

In the latest quarter, there were 110,000 new HB claims processed by LAs. This comprises of: 

• 77,000 (70%) working age claimants – of these, 37,000 (48%) were in specified accommodation, 33,000 (43%) were in temporary accommodation and 7,300 (9%) were in other accommodation types

• 33,000 (30%) pension age claimants – of these, 1,400 (4%) were in specified accommodation, 990 (3%) were in temporary accommodation and 31,000 (93%) were in other accommodation types

In the latest quarter there were 1.9 million changes of circumstances to existing claims processed by LAs in the latest quarter. 

• 500,000 (27%) for working age claimants 

• 1.4 million (73%) for pension age claimants 

Note: Volumes for working age and pension age cases may not sum to the total volume for processed cases sometimes. This is caused by records that could not be matched to the customer information system (CIS) to extract missing date of birth and claimant sex records. For information on the matching process and reasons for unmatched records, please see the background information note.

6. What you need to know 

This release contains Official Statistics on speed of processing of HB claims for Q4 FYE 2026 (January 2026 to March 2026). They are compiled following the standards of trustworthiness, quality and public value set out within the Code. 

This is the last release of HB speed of processing statistics. The department has considered the feedback received during the recent public consultation on the value and frequency of the HB SoP publication. Feedback did not identify an ongoing public need for this information to be published. 

For more information see proposal 4 in the consultation outcome. We are grateful to all those who took the time to respond. 

Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to. You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards. Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk or via the OSR website 

The statistics show speed of processing of new HB claims and change of circumstances to existing HB claims. The volume of new HB claims and change of circumstances to existing HB claims are also included here for context. The total days to process new HB claims and change of circumstances are included in supporting detailed tables that can be viewed in the HB: Statistics on speed of processing collection page including a breakdown at LA level. 

Variations between months can occur at a LA level. These variations are caused by time limited issues or localised changes in operational policy. Hence, figures for individual LAs should be interpreted with care. 

From April 2013, UC was introduced. Read more about UC. The process of migrating claimants to UC began with single claimants and was expanded to other claimant types via the UC Full Service (UCFS). The UCFS rollout was completed in December 2018, and it is now available in every Jobcentre across the UK. Read the rollout schedule for Full Service.  

Figures included in this bulletin are rounded in line with our rounding policy as outlined below and in our background methodology note.

Range	Rounded to the nearest
0 to 1,000	10
1,001 to 10,000	100
10,001 to 100,000	1,000
100,001 to 1,000,000	10,000
1,000,001 to 10,000,000	100,000
10,000,001 to 100,000,000	1,000,000

References to FYE quarters within this bulletin refer to the following time periods: 

FYE Q1: April to June 

FYE Q2: July to September 

FYE Q3: October to December 

FYE Q4: January to March