The Growth of In-Work Housing Benefit Claimants: Evidence and policy implications

Analysis of figures from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) indicates that:

• The number of Housing Benefit claimants reached a new high of 4.95 million in December 2011
  

• In-work households account for almost all (93 per cent) of the increase in the number of claimants in 2010 and 2011

• In December 2011 almost one in four households who rented their accommodation and were in employment received Housing Benefit

The growing number of in-work Housing Benefit claimants will have a considerable impact on government policy. In 2011 the number of additional in-work claimants is likely to have increased overall Housing Benefit expenditure by £490 million.

The research also provides a brief review of the factors that could be leading to a change in the financial position of these households which means that they are claiming Housing Benefit to help cover their housing costs.