Housing Benefit: statistics on speed of processing
Speed of processing is a measure of the average time it takes to process a new Housing Benefit claim or a change of circumstance to an existing Housing Benefit claim.
Next release
Starting with the next release in July 2024, the Housing Benefit speed of processing statistics will include a new breakdown by working age and pension age for both new claims and changes of circumstances to existing claims at the local authority level.
This new breakdown will be included as part of the existing statistical data tables and will cover the latest quarter. We are also looking into the possibility of publishing historical data for this breakdown.
The Housing Benefit speed of processing statistics show new claims and changes of circumstances separately and do not include a combined measure. Speed of processing replaced the old ‘right time indicator’.
The following are included in the additional tables for both new Housing Benefit claims and change of circumstance to existing Housing Benefit claims:
- the number of Housing Benefit claims processed
- the total number of processing days
Find details of future DWP statistics releases in the statistics release calendar.
There is contact information and more about DWP statistics on the Statistics at DWP page.
Latest release
Explore the statistics with our interactive map
View an interactive map at regional and local authority levels, showing the average number of days to process a new Housing Benefit claim or a change in an existing claim.
Background information
Information about the Housing Benefit speed of processing statistics.
Related publications
DWP publishes historic and forecast benefit expenditure and caseload data which is usually consistent with the Autumn Budget and Spring Statement.
Housing Benefit: debt recoveries and fraud data
Ad hoc statistical analyses: 2017
Previous releases
The January 2013 to March 2013 (quarter 4, 2012 to 2013) publication was the last to contain Council Tax Benefit.
Historic publications of ‘right time indicator’ and Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit claims quarterly performance data are available on the National Archives website.
Questionnaire about these statistics
Help us to improve our statistics and ensure value for money. Please complete our questionnaire about the speed of processing statistics to tell us what you think about our statistics.
Last updated 6 June 2024 + show all updates
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Updated the note on the page about a new breakdown of working age and pension age statistics - these will be included in the next release of statistics, due to published on 31 July 2024.
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Information added asking for views on a proposed development to our routine Housing Benefit Speed of Processing Statistics by May 31, 2024.
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Added a link to the Housing Benefit statistics on speed of processing for 2023 to 2024.
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Added a link to the Housing Benefit statistics on speed of processing for 2022 to 2023.
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Added a link to 'Housing Benefit: statistics on speed of processing 2021 to 2022' - the data in this release is for April to June 2021, also known as quarter 1.
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Added 'Housing Benefit: statistics on speed of processing 2020 to 2021' - the data in this release is for April to June 2020, also known as quarter 1.
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Added 'Housing Benefit: statistics on speed of processing 2019 to 2020' - the data in this release is for April to June 2019, also known as quarter 1.
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Added request for feedback on changing the frequency of the Housing Benefit speed of processing publication from every 3 months to every 6 months.
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Added 'Housing Benefit: statistics on speed of processing 2018 to 2019' - the data in this release of statistics is for April to June 2018, also known as quarter 1.
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Added 'Housing Benefit: statistics on speed of processing 2017 to 2018'. This includes statistics for April to June 2017 (quarter 1, 2017 to 2018).
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Published Housing Benefit 'speed of processing' statistics for April to June 2016.
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Published Housing Benefit 'speed of processing' statistics for April to June 2015.
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Minor revision to 2014/15 statistics (see note on page).
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Published Housing Benefit 'speed of processing' statistics for July to September 2014.
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Published Housing Benefit 'speed of processing' statistics for April to June 2014.
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Published questionnaire to help us improve the statistics.
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Date of next release updated to 23 April 2014
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Supporting information and FAQ document added. 2013/14 Quarter 2 stats (July 2013 to September 2013) published
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Added latest Housing Benefit speed of processing statistics, April to June 2013
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First published.