State support

Published 25 October 2017

Last updated 10 October 2018 - see all updates

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Contents

1. Main facts and figures

• over half of family units in the UK received some type of state support, including the State Pension and Child Benefit, over the period studied (for the purposes of this data, a family unit is defined as a single adult or a married or cohabiting couple plus any dependent children)

• White British family units were the most likely to receive state support (of any type) and Chinese family units were the least likely to

• White British family units were also the most likely to receive non-income related benefits, and Bangladeshi, Black, Mixed, Pakistani and Other ethnic family units were more likely to receive income-related benefits and tax credits

• Since 2009/10, the percentage of family units receiving any type of state support has declined for all ethnicities apart from the Bangladeshi and Chinese groups

• new data has been published for the 3-year period 2014/15 to 2016/17 – this data isn’t currently reflected in the charts, tables and commentary on this page, but you can get a CSV file with the latest figures if you download the data

Things you need to know

To increase the reliability of the data, which is taken from the Family Resources Survey (FRS), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) combines data for each year into a 3-year average. These calculations continue over a series of overlapping 3-year periods.

This type of survey methodology means that some statistical tests for significant differences between ethnic groups have not been carried out. However, commentary has been supplied for those findings where differences between ethnic groups are reasonably reliable.

The FRS has been shown to under-report the number of people receiving benefits compared with administrative records held by DWP. For this reason, the percentages given here are likely to be slightly lower than the actual percentage of claimants in the population.

When analysing the data, keep in mind that the measure only includes family units as defined here (see What the data measures). It does not include all families or households in the UK.

What the data measures

This data measures the different types of financial support family units receive from the state, and breaks this information down by ethnicity.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) uses the term ‘benefit unit’ to refer to a family unit made up of a single adult, or a married or cohabiting couple (including same-sex partners), plus any dependent children.

These benefit, or family, units contain a maximum of 2 adults and are categorised according to the ethnicity of the ‘head of benefit unit’. The head of the benefit unit is the adult with the highest income, or, in cases where the income of both adults is equal, the oldest adult.

For the purposes of this analysis, the data groups the types of state support into the following categories:

• any type of state support
• any non-income related benefit
• any income-related benefit
• benefits which can be income-related or non-income related
• any type of tax credit

The data then looks in more detail at these categories of support.

Types of non-income related benefit:

• Child Benefit
• State Pension
• Disability Living Allowance (divided into the benefit’s care component and disability component)

Types of income-related benefit:

• Council Tax Reduction
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• Pension Credit

Types of benefit which can be both income-related and non-income related:

• Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Employment and Support Allowance

Types of tax credit:

• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit

Finally, the data analyses how levels of state support have changed over time.

Non-income related benefit is not means-tested, but dependent on the recipient’s circumstances (level of disability, for example). Child Benefit, Disability Living Allowance and State Pension are the main types of non-income related benefit.

Income-related benefit is means-tested and dependent on level of income and savings. Council Tax Reduction, Housing Benefit, Income Support and Pension Credit are the main types of income-related benefit.

Some benefits can be both income-related and non-income related. For example, Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) is a benefit claimed by people who are looking for work. Income-related JSA can be claimed by family units who work part time and have limited savings. Non-income related JSA (also known as ‘contribution-based JSA’) depends on National Insurance contributions and isn’t affected by a family unit’s savings or income.

Similarly, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is a benefit claimed by people who are sick or disabled, and either need help to be able to work, or can’t work. Non-income related ESA (also known as ‘contribution-based ESA’) depends on National Insurance contributions and isn’t affected by a family unit’s savings or income. This benefit may be topped up with, or followed by, income-related ESA, which is means-tested.

For the purposes of this analysis, DWP has grouped together all claimants of JSA (income-related, non-income related, or a mixture of both) and all claimants of ESA (income-related, non-income related, or a mixture of both).

Tax credits are also means-tested and dependent on the income level of a family unit.

Total state support received by an individual family unit can consist of income-related benefits, non-income related benefits, tax credits or a combination of all three.

Most benefits are administered by DWP. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction are administered by local authorities.

The ethnic categories used in this data

The Family Resources Survey uses the following ethnic categories:

White

• White British
• White Other

Mixed/Multiple

Asian/Asian British:

• Indian
• Pakistani
• Bangladeshi
• Chinese
• Asian Other

Black/African/Caribbean/Black British

Other ethnic group

2. Family units receiving state support, by ethnicity and type of support

• Location: United Kingdom
• Time period: 2013/14 to 2015/16
• Source: Family Resources Survey: financial year 2015/16

Percentage of family units receiving state support, by ethnicity and type of support

Ethnicity	Any type of state support	Any type of tax credit	Any income-related benefit	Any non-income related benefit
	%	%	%	%
All	57	11	19	53
Asian	48	16	18	43
Bangladeshi	56	30	32	48
Chinese	30	7	8	28
Indian	46	9	13	43
Pakistani	53	25	23	46
Asian other	44	15	18	40
Black	54	19	29	47
Mixed	45	15	24	37
White British	59	10	19	55
White other	42	13	15	39
Any other	49	15	27	42

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary of State support Family units receiving state support, by ethnicity and type of support Summary

For the purposes of this data, a family unit is defined as a single adult or a married or cohabiting couple (including same-sex partners), plus any dependent children.

This data shows that:

• overall, 57% of family units received some type of state support; White British family units were the most likely to receive it (at 59%), and Chinese family units were the least likely to (30%)

• overall, family units were more likely to receive a non-income related benefit, including the State Pension and Child Benefit (53% did so) than an income-related benefit (19%) or a tax credit (11%)

• Bangladeshi family units were the most likely to receive both a type of tax credit (30% did so) and a type of income-related benefit (32%); Chinese family units were the least likely to receive either of these types of support (7% and 8% did so respectively)

• White British family units were the most likely to receive a type of non-income related benefit (55%) and Chinese units were the least likely to (28%)

3. Family units receiving non-income related benefits, by ethnicity and type of benefit

• Location: United Kingdom
• Time period: 2013/14 to 2015/16
• Source: Family Resources Survey: financial year 2015/16

Percentage of family units receiving non-income related benefits by ethnicity and type of benefit

Ethnicity	Child Benefit	State Pension	Disability Living Allowance (care component)	Disability Living Allowance (mobility component)
	%	%	%	%
All	20	25	6	6
Asian	27	9	4	3
Bangladeshi	35	8	6	4
Chinese	18	7	0	1
Indian	23	13	4	3
Pakistani	32	7	6	4
Asian other	28	7	2	1
Black	29	11	5	4
Mixed	24	8	4	3
White British	19	28	7	6
White other	24	10	3	2
Other	27	8	3	3

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary of State support Family units receiving non-income related benefits, by ethnicity and type of benefit Summary

For the purposes of this data, a family unit is defined as a single adult or a married or cohabiting couple (including same-sex partners), plus any dependent children.

This data shows that:

• overall, 25% of family units received a State Pension, 20% received Child Benefit, 6% received the care component of Disability Living Allowance and 6% received the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance

• Bangladeshi and Pakistani family units were the most likely to receive Child Benefit (at 35% and 32% respectively) and Chinese and White British family units were the least likely to (at 18% and 19% respectively)

• 28% of White British family units received the State Pension, more than twice the proportion of any other ethnic group

• the percentages of ethnic groups receiving these types of benefit is related to the age profile of the groups: for example, there are more people over the age of 65 in the White British group than in other ethnic groups, and for this reason a larger percentage of this group receive state support in the form of a State Pension

4. Family units receiving income-related benefits

• Location: United Kingdom
• Time period: 2013/14 to 2015/16
• Source: Family Resources Survey: financial year 2015/16

Percentage of family units receiving income-related benefits by ethnicity and type of benefit

Ethnicity	Council Tax Reduction	Housing Benefit	Income Support	Pension Credit
	%	%	%	%
All	14	13	3	4
Asian	12	10	3	3
Bangladeshi	23	23	5	2
Chinese	6	5	1	2
Indian	9	6	2	4
Pakistani	15	11	4	3
Asian other	12	14	2	3
Black	21	23	6	3
Mixed	17	17	4	2
White British	14	12	3	5
White other	10	12	1	2
Other	20	22	4	2

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary of State support Family units receiving income-related benefits Summary

For the purposes of this data, a family unit is defined as a single adult or a married or cohabiting couple (including same-sex partners), plus any dependent children.

This data shows that:

• Council Tax Reduction is the most commonly claimed income-related benefit (claimed by 14% of family units), followed by Housing Benefit (13%), Pension Credit (4%), and Income Support (3%)

• Bangladeshi, Black and Other family units were the most likely to receive Council Tax Reduction (at 23%, 21% and 20% respectively) and Housing Benefit (at 23%, 23% and 22% respectively)

• Chinese family units were the least likely to receive Council Tax Reduction (at 6%) and Chinese and Indian family units were the least likely to receive Housing Benefit (at 5% and 6% respectively)

5. Family units receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

• Location: United Kingdom
• Time period: 2013/14 to 2015/16
• Source: Family Resources Survey: financial year 2015/16

Percentage of family units receiving JSA or ESA

Ethnicity	Jobseeker's Allowance	Employment and Support Allowance
	Value	Value
All	3	4
Asian	3	2
Bangladeshi	3	6
Chinese	1
Indian	2	2
Pakistani	4	2
Asian other	2	2
Black	5	3
Mixed	5	3
White British	2	4
White other	2	1
Other	5	4

Data withheld because a small sample size makes it unreliable

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary of State support Family units receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Summary

For the purposes of this analysis, DWP has grouped together all claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance (income-related, non-income related, or a mixture of both) and all claimants of Employment and Support Allowance (income-related, non-income related, or a mixture of both).

For more on these benefits, see 'What the data measures'.

A family unit is defined as a single adult or a married or cohabiting couple (including same-sex partners), plus any dependent children.

This data shows that:

• overall, 4% of family units in the UK received ESA and 3% received JSA

• Bangladeshi family units were the most likely to receive ESA (at 6%) and White Other family units were the least likely to (at 1%)

• Black, Mixed and Other family units were the most likely to receive JSA (all at 5%) and Chinese family units were the least likely to (at 1%)

6. Family units receiving tax credits

• Location: United Kingdom
• Time period: 2013/14 to 2015/16
• Source: Family Resources Survey: financial year 2015/16

Percentage of family units receiving tax credits by ethnicity and type of tax credit

Ethnicity	Child Tax Credit	Working Tax Credit
	%	%
All	10	5
Asian	15	9
Bangladeshi	29	16
Chinese	6	5
Indian	8	5
Pakistani	24	14
Asian other	15	9
Black	19	8
Mixed	14	7
White British	9	5
White other	12	8
Other	14	7

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary of State support Family units receiving tax credits Summary

For the purposes of this data, a family unit is defined as a single adult or a married or cohabiting couple (including same-sex partners), plus any dependent children.

This data shows that:

• overall, 10% of family units received Child Tax Credit and 5% received Working Tax Credit

• Bangladeshi and Pakistani family units were the most likely to receive Child Tax Credit (at 29% and 24% respectively) and Working Tax Credit (at 16% and 14% respectively)

• Chinese, Indian and White British family units were the least likely to receive Child Tax Credit (at 6%, 8% and 9% respectively) and Working Tax Credit (at 5% for all 3 groups)

7. Family units receiving state support by ethnicity over time

• Location: United Kingdom
• Time period: 2009/10 to 2015/16
• Source: Family Resources Survey: financial year 2015/16

Percentage of family units receiving state support by ethnicity over time

Ethnicity	2009/10-2011/12	2010/11-2012/13	2011/12-2013/14	2012/13-2014/15	2013/14-2015/16
	%	%	%	%	%
All	62	61	60	58	57
Asian	49	50	50	49	48
Bangladeshi	53	52	59	55	56
Chinese	29	29	31	30	30
Indian	48	48	48	47	46
Pakistani	56	59	57	57	53
Asian other	48	51	49	49	44
Black	58	60	59	58	54
Mixed	49	47	46	44	45
White British	64	63	62	60	59
White other	48	47	46	45	42
Other	55	53	52	49	49

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary of State support Family units receiving state support by ethnicity over time Summary

For the purposes of this data, a family unit is defined as a single adult or a married or cohabiting couple (including same-sex partners), plus any dependent children.

This data shows that:

• overall, the percentage of family units receiving state support (of any type) has decreased from 62% to 57% over the period studied

• there was an increase in the proportion of family units receiving state support within 2 ethnic groups over this period: the percentage of Bangladeshi family units receiving support went from 53% to 56%, and the percentage of Chinese family units from 29% to 30%

• all other ethnic groups saw a decline in the percentage of family units receiving state support over the period studied

8. Methodology

The FRS is a continuous household survey which collects information on a representative sample of private households in the UK. Detailed information is recorded on respondents’ income from all sources:

• housing tenure
• caring needs and responsibilities
• disability
• expenditure on housing
• education
• pension scheme participation
• childcare
• family circumstances
• child maintenance

The survey is conducted in respondents’ homes face to face with an interviewer.

In the latest 3-year period, 2013/14 to 2015/16, the FRS sample consisted of almost 60,000 households in the UK. It has a financial-year survey period with surveys conducted throughout the year and is cross-sectional (a ‘snapshot’ of households over the year). Individuals are not followed up for later surveys. Since responses reflect only a sample of the total population, they are weighted (scaled up) on the basis of subnational population totals by age and sex to give estimates for the entire UK household population.

Estimates are subject to sampling error and non-sampling bias. The FRS only covers private households. Therefore, individuals who live in communal accommodation (for example, care homes) or have no fixed address (for example, who are homeless) are not included in these results.

Households where every resident over the age of 16 responds to the questions are classed as fully co-operating. Only households with full co-operation are included in the analysis. This may introduce some error, as the characteristics of individuals living in households which do not respond fully may be different to those who do fully co-operate. Therefore, the sample will be biased towards (that is, more representative of) those who do respond fully. Overall, 56% of households fully co-operated with the survey, meaning there was a sample size of 19,326 households in 2015/16.

Results derived from a low number of responses are more likely to be affected by statistical variation, so observed changes might not reflect real differences. As such, caution is needed when interpreting short-term trends in the data, especially for sub-groups (for example, a specific ethnic group, age group and gender). Using a 3-year average for income minimises the risks due to uncertainty to an extent.

As the ethnic group of the household is based on the ethnic group of the household reference person, some individuals will have been assigned an ethnic group to which they do not belong. This may affect estimates based on ethnicity.

As the data is presented as a 3-year average, no statistical tests have been performed to determine whether the estimates taken from the survey are statistically significantly different from one another.

In other words, as the results are based on a sample of the population, without further testing it isn’t possible to determine whether any differences observed would likely be seen across the entire population. This is important to consider and means that conclusions around differences between groups cannot be drawn. However, the data is still useful because it indicates where differences between ethnic groups might exist.

Suppression rules and disclosure control

Any values based on fewer than 100 responses have been suppressed.

Rounding

Percentages are given to the nearest whole percentage point. Due to this rounding, some figures may not add up.

Quality and methodology information

9. Data sources

Source

Family Resources Survey: financial year 2015/16

Type of data

Survey data

Type of statistic

National Statistics

Publisher

Department for Work and Pensions

Publication frequency

Yearly

Purpose of data source

The primary purpose of the Family Resources Survey (FRS) is to provide the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) with data to inform the development, monitoring and evaluation of social welfare policy.

The survey is used by many other government departments, as well as for tax and benefit policy modelling by HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs.

The FRS is also used extensively by academics and research institutes for social and economic research.

10. Download the data

State support received v2 - Spreadsheet (csv) 45 KB

This file contains data for the 3-year period 2014/15 to 2016/17. This is the latest data available, but does not reflect the figures shown in the charts, tables and commentary on this page. This file contains: measure, ethnicity, year, value

State_support_received - Spreadsheet (csv) 284 KB

This file contains data for the years 2009/10 to 2015/16. This is the data used in the charts, tables and commentary shown on this page. The file contains: measure, ethnicity, year, value, denominator

Publication release date: 25 October 2017

Updated: 10 October 2018

full page history

1. 10 October 2018 Added an extra data file containing the latest data available for 2016/17. No changes to charts, tables and commentary. A correction made to geography codes on the 2009/10 to 2015/16 csv file for download
2. 25 October 2017 First published

From: Department for Work and Pensions

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