Collection

Benefit Cap statistics

Statistics on households affected by the benefit cap.

From:
Department for Work and Pensions
Published
10 October 2013
Last updated
19 March 2024 — See all updates

These Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) quarterly publications provide statistics on households affected by the benefit cap and include:

  • cumulative and point-in-time numbers of households capped
  • number of households that were previously capped but have moved off the cap

The Benefit Cap statistics are badged as Official Statistics covering the number of households capped under:

  • Housing Benefit (HB) from April 2013
  • Universal Credit (UC) from October 2016

In Spring 2023, the Chief Statistician for DWP led an internal review of all experimental official statistics produced by DWP. This is in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics. The review found that it was appropriate to remove the experimental label from the UC series in the Benefit Cap statistics because it is no longer under development. As of 19 September 2023, the UC series in these statistics are also now classed as ‘official statistics’.

Latest release

Information on the age of youngest child for capped Housing Benefit households continues to be suspended for the latest release of the Benefit Cap statistics. This is due to an issue with the quality of the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) statistical Child Benefit data, which is still being investigated. This issue only affects the Benefit Cap statistics and no other DWP statistical releases. We will reinstate the breakdown in the statistical series as soon as possible, in line with the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) Code of Practice for Statistics.

Find future Benefit Cap statistics publication dates in our statistics release calendar and more about our statistics on the Statistics at DWP page.

Email kate.walker@dwp.gov.uk with queries and feedback about the Benefit Cap statistics. We are only able to reply to questions about the statistics.

Find further breakdowns of Benefit Cap statistics in Stat-Xplore.

Latest release

Previous releases

Published 10 October 2013
Last updated 19 March 2024 + show all updates

  1. Added the latest release of benefit cap statistics - number of households capped to November 2023.

  2. Added the latest release of benefit cap statistics — number of households capped to August 2023.

  3. Added a note to the page that information on the age of youngest child for capped Housing Benefit households will be suspended from the next release of Benefit Cap statistics (due to be published on from 12 December 2023).

  4. Added the latest release of benefit cap statistics — number of households capped to May 2023.

  5. Added the latest release of benefit cap statistics - number of households capped to February 2023.

  6. Added the latest release of benefit cap statistics - number of households capped to November 2022.

  7. Added the latest release of benefit cap statistics - number of households capped to August 2022.

  8. Added the latest release of benefit cap statistics - number of households capped to May 2022.

  9. Added a note that the next release of benefit cap statistics will be published on Wednesday 21 September 2022.

  10. Added the latest release of benefit cap statistics - number of households capped to February 2022.

  11. Added 'Benefit cap: number of households capped to November 2021' to the latest release section of the collection.

  12. Added 'Benefit cap: number of households capped to August 2021' to the latest release section of the collection.

  13. Added 'Benefit cap: number of households capped to May 2021' to the latest release section of the collection.

  14. Added a link to the latest release of benefit cap statistics, with data to February 2021.

  15. Added a link to the latest release of benefit cap statistics, with data to November 2020.

  16. Added a link to the latest release of benefit cap statistics, with data to August 2020.

  17. Added a link to the latest release of benefit cap statistics, with data to May 2020.

  18. Added a link to the latest release of benefit cap statistics, with data to February 2020.

  19. Added a link to the latest release of benefit cap statistics, with data to November 2019.

  20. Added a link to the latest release of benefit cap statistics, with data to August 2019.

  21. Added a note that the review about the frequency of publication of these statistics is now closed and we are analysing your feedback.

  22. Added 'Benefit cap: number of households capped to May 2019' to the latest release.

  23. Added a link to the latest release of benefit cap statistics, with data to February 2019.

  24. Updated email address for feedback and queries about the statistics.

  25. Added a link to the latest release of benefit cap statistics, with data on the number of households capped to November 2018.

  26. Added latest release of benefit cap statistics, with data on the number of households capped to August 2018.

  27. Added latest release of benefit cap statistics, with data on the number of households capped to May 2018.

  28. Added latest release of benefit cap statistics, with data on the number of households capped to February 2018.

  29. Added a link to the latest release of benefit cap statistics, this includes data for the number of households capped to November 2017.

  30. Added 'Benefit cap: number of households capped to August 2017'. Also added note about the recently closed consultation on 'Universal Credit experimental statistics: future developments'. This included plans to expand the range of statistics, including statistics on households that have their Universal Credit capped.

  31. Added a note about a Universal Credit statistics consultation - seeking views on plans to expand the range of statistics, including developing statistics on households that have had their Universal Credit capped.

  32. Added 'Benefit cap: number of households capped to May 2017'

  33. Added ad hoc statistical release 'Benefit cap: estimated impact on parents, by age of youngest child'.

  34. Added 'Benefit cap: number of households capped to February 2017'.

  35. Added benefit cap statistics to November 2016.

  36. Added benefit cap statistics to August 2016.

  37. Published benefit cap statistics to May 2016.

  38. Published benefit cap statistics to February 2016 and added link to background and methodology document.

  39. Published benefit cap statistics to November 2015.

  40. Added latest statistics on the number of households capped to August 2015.

  41. Added latest statistics on the number of households capped to May 2015.

  42. Published statistics on Benefit cap: number of households capped to February 2015.

  43. Published latest statistics showing number of households capped to November 2014.

  44. Added 'Benefit cap: number of households capped to August 2014'.

  45. Published latest statistics showing number of households capped to May 2014. Benefit cap statistics are also available in Stat-Xplore.

  46. Latest statistics published showing number of households capped to December 2013.

  47. Added combined national and regional benefit cap statistics to November 2013. Updated statistics (to Nov 2013) for Jobcentre Plus activity with claimants potentially impacted by the benefit cap statistics.

  48. Added date for next update - 6 Mar 14.

  49. Added combined national and regional benefit cap statistics to October 2013. Updated statistics (to Oct 2013) for Jobcentre Plus activity with claimants potentially impacted by the benefit cap statistics.

  50. New statistical release on the number of households capped to September 2013 added to the list of documents.

  51. Details and hyperlink added to the 7 November statistical release for Jobcentre Plus activity with claimants potentially impacted by the benefit cap and the statistical release on the number of households capped to the end of September 2013

  52. First published.

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