Benefits data and information requests

We get many requests under the Freedom of Information Act for information on how our DHP fund is spent, our caseload, exempt accommodation cases and so on.

Before you make your request, you may be able to find what you are looking for here.

Claims caseload

Housing Benefit

Claims caseload for housing benefit

Year

Pension age claims

Working age claims

Total

2022/2023

2610

2280

4890

2021/2022

2665

2685

5350

2020/2021

2736

3202

5938

Council Tax Reduction

Claims caseload for council tax reduction

Year

Pension age claims

Working age claims

Total

2022/2023

4372

4727

9099

2021/2022

4482

4757

9239

2020/2021

4615

4741

9356

 

For more information on our Council Tax Reduction scheme, visit our Council Tax Reduction page.

Performance

Our average processing times in 2022/23 were:

Day per claim: 17.8

Days per change of circumstances: 1.36

We were well within the government guidelines for processing times.

Exempt accommodation

For claims treated as exempt accommodation, the portion of our caseload is as follows:

Exempt accommodation claim numbers and payments

Year

Number of claims

Annual payments

2022/2023

804

£47,73701

2021/2022

718

£41,93217

2020/2021

680

£47,73701

We are not required to, nor do we split out costs between supported and exempt.

Discretionary Housing Payments

Discretionary housing payments and years

 

2020/21

2021/22

2022/23

Awarded

376

158

231

Refused

217

151

299

Repeat application

66

21

4

Reconsidered

1

0

37

Rent shortfall

56

22

37

Under 35 restrictions

2

0

0

Universal Credit

156

88

133

Removal costs

8

8

17

Benefit cap

12

6

6

Bedroom tax

22

3

6

Rent in advance

89

26

22

Other

5

5

10

Average one-off

£893.26

£852.14

£870.99

Average ongoing per week

£73.80

£67.20

£54.90

Average duration

117

89 days

79 days

The main reasons for refusing DHP are claimants failing to provide evidence and information to support their applications or not meeting the eligibility criteria which can be found on our Discretionary Housing Payment webpage.

Make a request

If you still cannot find what you are looking for please visit our Freedom of Information page to make a formal request.