Housing Benefit Debt Recoveries statistics: April to September 2024
Published 5 March 2025
漏 Crown copyright 2025
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Housing Benefit (HB) is an income-related benefit that is intended to help meet housing costs for rented accommodation.
This publication updates statistics on the amount of HB that local authorities (LAs) identified had been overpaid to claimants, the amount recovered, and the amount written off, with data for the first two quarters of FYE 2025 (April 2024 to September 2024).
1.听惭补颈苍 stories
During the first two quarters of FYE 2025:
-
LAs identified 拢219 million overpaid HB 鈥� 拢6 million less than the first two quarters of FYE 2024听
-
LAs recovered 拢222 million overpaid HB 鈥� 拢4 million more than the first two quarters of FYE 2024听
-
LAs wrote off 拢34 million overpaid HB 鈥� 拢3 million more than the first two quarters of FYE 2024听
-
at the start of Q2 of FYE 2025, there was 拢1.58 billion outstanding overpaid HB 鈥� 拢106 million less than at the start of Q2 of FYE 2024
2. What you need to know
This summary contains statistics on the amount of overpaid鈥�HB identified, recovered and written-off by LAs. The statistics are based on the Housing Benefit Debt Recovery (HBDR) returns, collected from LAs each quarter.
The statistics are published twice a year, in March and September. The March publication contains data for the first two quarters of the financial year (April to September). The September publication contains finalised data for the whole of the financial year.
Data tables听containing data that underpin the charts and figures featured in this statistical summary are available. As well as the regional and GB totals shown in this statistical summary, the data tables show figures for individual LAs.
LAs听are expected to send data returns for all fields on a quarterly basis but sometimes for various reasons this doesn鈥檛 happen, or they can鈥檛 provide data for some fields. The amount of missing information at the start of the series was more prevalent, but since Quarter 3 of听FYE听2017 the amount of missing information is minimal. For Q1 and Q2 FYE 2025, returns were received covering 98.9% of HB claimants in GB. Please see section 8 for more information about this.
Because of the greater amount of missing data in the early series, estimates were made to impute Great Britain (GB) totals. As a result, charts in this summary and the ODS tables include 鈥榠mputed鈥櫶�GB听totals based on estimates for missing data up to Quarter 2 of听FYE听2017. As the data return rate is high from this date no estimates have been made for missing data from听Q3听辞蹿听FYE听2017.
Since the end of 2018, most new working-age claimants have claimed the housing element of Universal Credit (UC) rather than HB. The number of people claiming鈥�HB鈥痟as been steadily decreasing and will continue to fall as existing HB claims transfer to UC. This has had an impact, both on the amount of overpaid HB identified by LAs, and the amount of overpaid HB that they recover.
3.听罢辞迟补濒 outstanding HB overpayments
Total outstanding HB overpayments in听Great Britain听from Q1 FYE 2010 to Q2 FYE 2025 (拢 billions)
狈辞迟别:听GB听figures up to听Q2听辞蹿听FYE听2017 are 鈥渋mputed鈥� totals, based on estimates of missing听LA听data.听 From听Q3听辞蹿听FYE听2017, figures shown are those actually returned by听LAs.
Source: HBDR data tables Figures in the graph are plotted at quarterly intervals throughout each financial year.
At the start of Q2 of FYE 2025, total outstanding HB overpayments stood at 拢1.58 billion. This was 拢106 million (6%) less than at the start of Q2 of FYE 2024.
The value of outstanding overpayments followed a generally increasing trend from 拢554 million in听Q2听FYE听2009, until it reached a peak of 拢2.12 billion in听Q4听of the听FYE听2018 and has gradually declined since. During the first two quarters of the听FYE听2025, the total value of outstanding overpayments continued to follow a decreasing trend and was 拢1.60 billion in Q1 and 拢1.58 billion in Q2.
Amount of overpaid HB identified / recovered and written-off by LAs from Q1 FYE 2010 to Q2 FYE 2025 (拢 millions)
狈辞迟别:听GB听figures up to听Q2听辞蹿听FYE听2017 are 鈥渋mputed鈥� totals, based on estimates of missing听LA听data.听 From听Q3听辞蹿听FYE听2017, figures shown are those actually returned by听LAs.
Source: HBDR data tables. Figures in the graph are plotted at quarterly intervals throughout each financial year.
Prior to end of FYE 2018 the amount of overpaid HB identified was always greater than the amount recovered or written off, but since then the total amount of overpaid HB outstanding has been falling because LAs are recovering or writing-off more HB overpayments than they newly identify. In Q2 of FYE 2025, LA鈥檚 identified 拢107 million overpaid HB, but recovered 拢110 million and wrote-off 拢20 million.
Total outstanding HB overpayments by region, at the start of听Q2听of FYE 2025
| Region | Total outstanding HB overpayments (拢 millions) | % of GB total |
|---|---|---|
| Great Britain | 1,580 | 100% |
| North East | 42 | 3% |
| North West | 147 | 9% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 79 | 5% |
| East Midlands | 67 | 4% |
| West Midlands | 137 | 9% |
| East Midlands | 102 | 6% |
| London | 583 | 37% |
| South East | 176 | 11% |
| South West | 82 | 5% |
| Wales | 42 | 3% |
| Scotland | 122 | 8% |
Source: HBDR data tables
At the start of Q2 of FYE 2025, London LAs reported 拢583 million outstanding overpaid HB, over a third (37%) of the GB total. At the start of Q2 of FYE 2025, 90% of the outstanding overpaid HB in GB was in LAs in England, 3% in LAs in Wales and 8% in LAs in Scotland.
4.听Housing Benefit overpayments identified by LAs
HB overpayments identified in听Great Britain,听from Q1听of FYE 2010 to Q2听of FYE 2025 (拢 millions)
狈辞迟别:听GB听figures up to听Q2听辞蹿听FYE听2017 are 鈥渋mputed鈥� totals, based on estimates of missing听LA听data.听 From听Q3听辞蹿听FYE听2017, figures shown are those actually returned by听LAs.
Source: HBDR data tables. Figures in the graph are plotted at quarterly intervals throughout each financial year.
Historically there was an increasing trend in the amount of overpayments identified from Q1 of听FYE听2009 to听Q2听of FYE听2016 where the amount identified reached a high of 拢322 million. After this, the amount of HB debt identified has fluctuated but generally followed a downward trend to a low of 拢92 million in Q3 of FYE 2021. Since then, amounts of HB debt identified each quarter have continued to fluctuate but with a slow increasing trend. The latest quarter has seen a slight decrease, with 拢111 million being identified in Q1 of FYE 2025 and 拢107 million in Q2 of FYE 2025.
Factors influencing the amount of HB overpayment identified by LAs include:
-
the Fraud and Error Reduction Incentive Scheme (FERIS) was introduced in Q3 of FYE 2015 to help LAs to identify and prevent HB overpayment. Around the same time, real-time information (RTI) on claimant鈥檚 incomes became available to LAs. The income that claimants reported on their HB claims was checked against RTI on claimants鈥� actual income from HMRC. These checks led to undeclared income, and consequently overpaid HB, being identified by LAs
-
UC rollout 鈥� most new working-age claimants have claimed the housing element of UC rather than HB
-
during the COVID-19 lockdowns in Q4 FYE 2020 and FYE 2021, many LAs redeployed staff away from processing and debt recovery to other frontline activities and restricted face-to-face meetings between staff and claimants
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the听HB听Award Accuracy Initiative (HBAA) is a process whereby the department uses targeted data matching to identify听HB听cases with the highest risk of an undeclared change. The initiative then provides funds and encourages听LAs听to undertake proactive reviews
Total HB overpayments identified by LAs, by region, Q1 and Q2 FYE 2025
| Region | Total HB overpayments identified (拢 millions) | % of GB total |
|---|---|---|
| Great Britain | 219 | 100% |
| North East | 5 | 2% |
| North West | 19 | 9% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 13 | 6% |
| East Midlands | 12 | 6% |
| West Midlands | 25 | 12% |
| East | 16 | 7% |
| London | 68 | 31% |
| South East | 29 | 13% |
| South West | 13 | 6% |
| Wales | 8 | 4% |
| Scotland | 11 | 5% |
Source: HBDR data tables
The amount of overpaid HB identified by LAs in the first two quarters of FYE 2025 ranged from 拢5 million in the North East (2% of the GB total) to 拢68 million (31% of the GB total) in London. Of the overpaid HB identified in GB, 91% were identified by LAs in England, 4% in Wales and 5% in Scotland.
Average HB听overpayment identified per claimant per month, by region, Q1 and Q2 FYE 2025
| Region | Average HB overpayment newly identified per claimant per month |
|---|---|
| Great Britain | 拢16.54 |
| England | 拢17.92 |
| North East | 拢7.19 |
| North West | 拢11.88 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 拢11.70 |
| East Midlands | 拢15.07 |
| West Midlands | 拢20.15 |
| East | 拢15.91 |
| London | 拢29.38 |
| South East | 拢20.21 |
| South West | 拢13.26 |
| Wales | 拢11.03 |
| Scotland | 拢7.92 |
Source: HBDR data tables and . The table allows comparisons by region and is not an indication of typical levels of overpayment per region.
To allow us to compare figures by region we have calculated the amount of overpayment identified per claimant per month. During Q1 and Q2 of FYE 2025 LAs identified overpaid HB equivalent to 拢16.54 per claimant per month. LAs in London identified the highest amount of overpaid HB, equivalent to 拢29.38 per claimant per month. LAs in England identified overpaid HB equivalent to 拢17.92 per claimant per month, compared with 拢11.03 in Wales and 拢7.92 in Scotland.
5.听Housing Benefit overpayments recovered
The amount of overpaid听HB听recovered by听LAs听steadily increased, reaching a high of 拢175 million in听Q4听辞蹿听FYE听2018. Subsequently, the amount of overpaid听HB听recovered by听LAs听fell steadily, to 拢132 million in听Q4听辞蹿听FYE听2020.
The start of the COVID-19 lockdown saw a sharp fall in the amount of overpaid听HB听recovered by听LAs. In听Q1听辞蹿听FYE听2021, it fell by nearly 拢30 million, to 拢103 million. In听Q2听辞蹿听FYE听2021 it fell again to 拢99 million. There was a small increase in the amount of overpaid听HB听recovered by听LAs, to 拢109 million in听Q2听辞蹿听FYE听2022, however by听Q1听辞蹿听FYE听2023 it had fallen further to 拢98 million. Since then, it has fluctuated with a slow increasing trend to 拢113 million in听Q4听辞蹿听FYE听2024, but has since fallen to 拢112 million in Q1 FYE 2025 and 拢110 million in Q2 of FYE 2025.
HB overpayments recovered in听Great Britain听from听Q1听of FYE 2010 to听Q2听of FYE 2025 (拢 millions)
狈辞迟别:听GB听figures up to听Q2听辞蹿听FYE听2017 are 鈥渋mputed鈥� totals, based on estimates of missing听LA听data. From听Q3听辞蹿听FYE听2017, figures shown are those actually returned by听LAs.
Source: HBDR data tables. Figures in the graph are plotted at quarterly intervals throughout each financial year.
Total HB overpayments recovered, by region, Q1 and Q2 FYE 2025
| Region | Total HB overpayments recovered (拢 millions) | % of GB total |
|---|---|---|
| Great Britain | 222 | 100% |
| North East | 6 | 3% |
| North West | 20 | 9% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 13 | 6% |
| East Midlands | 13 | 6% |
| West Midlands | 25 | 11% |
| East | 17 | 8% |
| London | 64 | 29% |
| South East | 31 | 14% |
| South West | 13 | 6% |
| Wales | 7 | 3% |
| Scotland | 12 | 5% |
Source: HBDR data tables
In听Q1 and Q2 of FYE听2024听LAs听in London reported 29% of the total amount of听HB听overpayments recovered in听GB.听Of the total听HB听overpayments recovered in听GB, 91% was recovered by听LAs听in England, 3% by听LAs听in Wales and 5% by听LAs听in Scotland.
6.听Housing Benefit overpayments written off
HB overpayments written off in听Great Britain, from听Q4听of FYE 2010 to听Q2听of FYE 2025 (拢 millions)
狈辞迟别:听GB听figures up to听Q2听辞蹿听FYE听2017 are 鈥渋mputed鈥� totals, based on estimates of missing听LA听data. From听Q3听辞蹿听FYE听2017, figures shown are those actually returned by听LAs.
Source: HBDR data tables
Each year, the amount of overpaid听HB听written-off by听LAs听has been highest in听Q4听(January to March) of the financial year, then in听Q1听of the following year there is a sharp fall. More information of possible causes for this spike can be found in the听background information and methodology note. To help smooth out this trend the chart above includes an average amount line.
The amount of overpaid HB that LAs wrote-off in the first two quarters of FYE 2025 was 拢34 million, an increase of 拢3 million when compared to the first two quarters of FYE 2024.
Focusing on financial year ending figures since the series began,听FYE听2018 saw the highest amount of overpaid听HB听written-off at 拢100 million, the annual amount then fell to 拢63 million in听FYE听2022 before rising to 拢72 million in听FYE听2023. The latest听FYE听2024 has seen a fall to 拢68 million. Despite this annual fall, the quarterly amounts written off during the FYE 2024 fluctuated from 拢15 million (Q1) to 拢21 million (Q4).听
Total HB overpayments written off, by region, Q1 and Q2 FYE 2025
| Region | Total HB overpayments written-off (拢 millions) | % of GB total |
|---|---|---|
| Great Britain | 34 | 100% |
| North East | 1 | 2% |
| North West | 3 | 8% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 2 | 7% |
| East Midlands | 1 | 4% |
| West Midlands | 3 | 8% |
| East Midlands | 3 | 7% |
| London | 10 | 28% |
| South East | 4 | 12% |
| South West | 2 | 5% |
| Wales | 1 | 3% |
| Scotland | 5 | 15% |
Source: HBDR data tables
The amount of overpaid HB written-off by LAs in the first two quarters of FYE 2025 ranged from 拢1 million (2% of the GB total) in the North East to 拢10 million (28% of the GB total) in London. 81% of overpaid HB written-off were made by LAs in England, 3% by LAs in Wales and 15% by LAs in Scotland.
7.听About these statistics
This summary contains statistics on the amount of overpaid听HB identified, recovered and written-off by LAs. The statistics are based on the Housing Benefit Debt Recovery (HBDR) returns, collected from LAs each quarter.
Publication schedule
The statistics are published twice a year, in March and September. The March publication contains data for the first two quarters of the financial year (April to September). The September publication updates the statistics with data for the whole of the financial year. Where LAs notified us of changes to their first two quarters鈥� data or provided a late Quarter 1 or Quarter 2 return after the deadline for the March 2025 publication, these will be incorporated into the September 2025 publication.
Supplementary statistics
Data tables听containing data that underpin the charts and figures featured in this statistical summary are available. As well as the regional and GB totals shown in this statistical summary, the data tables show figures for individual LAs.
LAs are asked to provide a breakdown between overpaid 鈥淩ent Allowance鈥� (HB paid to LA tenants) and 鈥淩ent Rebate鈥� (HB paid to housing association and private sector tenants). This breakdown is shown in the supplementary tables, in those LAs for which it is available.
Data completeness
Up to听Q2听辞蹿听FYE听2017, when an听LA听did not send a return听GB听totals were imputed using methodology detailed in the听background information and methodology note. From听Q3听辞蹿听FYE听2017 the return rate improved to a point that imputation of听GB听totals was no longer necessary, and all figures in the series from this date are from actual returns.
It is worth noting that the Debt Recovery amounts are derived from听LA听finance systems. Sometimes changes to听LAs鈥� IT processes and system conversions can result in higher levels of听LA听non-returns whilst these changes are taking place. Sometimes we need to omit certain听LA听data due to concerns over the quality of the data however the omission of听LA听data does not change the story in the release but can sometimes have a slight impact on regional level figures. Cyber-attacks can also impact a small number of听LA鈥檚 data returns.
Comparability
As well as missing data, the background information document describes a number of other factors that need to be considered when comparing data. These include:
-
it is not possible to make direct comparisons between the amount of HB overpayments that LAs identify during a particular period and the amount of overpayment that they recover in that period. Firstly, because overpayments are not necessarily identified in the same period that they occurred. Secondly, because overpayments are not necessarily recovered in the same period that they are identified
-
the number of people claiming HB has been decreasing and will continue to fall as Universal Credit (UC) replaces HB for working age claimants
-
the Fraud and Error Reduction Incentive Scheme (FERIS) provided LAs with tools to help them identify and prevent overpaid HB. Real-time information (RTI) on claimants鈥� income became available to LAs at around the same time (Q3 of FYE 2015). This allowed LAs to identify income that claimants had failed to report on their HB claims, which in turn led to an increase in the amount of overpaid HB that LAs were able to identify
-
at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many LAs redeployed staff away from debt recovery to frontline activities and restricted face-to-face meetings between staff and claimants
-
LAs sometimes identify an amount by which a HB claimant has been overpaid, but then revise this amount at a later date. In some cases, for instance, 鈥渦nderlying entitlement鈥� might be retrospectively applied to an overpayment, reducing the amount that the claimant was originally thought to owe. Conversely, an LA might retrospectively reverse their decision to write-off an overpayment. These revisions sometimes lead to a discrepancy between figures for one quarter and the next
The total amount of HB overpayment at the start of a quarter should, in theory, equal the total amount of overpayment at the start of the previous quarter, plus the amount of overpayment newly identified during the previous quarter, minus the amount of overpayment recovered and written-off during the previous quarter.听However, sometimes this is not always the case due to revisions made in Q4 to overpayments that LAs first identified in previous quarters.
The background information and methodology document describes this issue in more detail.
Local authority mergers
The statistics shown in this publication are based on the current听LA听configuration following any听LA听merges. Therefore, figures for the 鈥渙ld鈥澨�LAs听that merged to form the new听LAs听are no longer shown. This is consistent with听HB听caseload figures published on听.
Rounding policy
Percentage figures presented in this document are rounded to the nearest 1%. In some cases, figures may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
Data presented in the tables within this summary have been rounded to the nearest whole number (in millions) except for regional data of HB overpayments written off in Q1 and Q2 FYE 2025. These have been rounded to one decimal place (in millions) to represent a clearer picture of the data as overpayments written off are typically smaller than the other metrics covered in this release.
In the supplementary tables, raw data provided by LAs have been added to generate regional and national totals, before being rounded to the nearest 拢1,000. As a result of this rounding, the sum of the LA figures shown in the tables may be slightly different to the regional and national totals.
Related statistics
These statistics show the amount of HB overpayment that is identified and subsequently recovered by LAs. The DWP fraud and error statistics provide estimates of fraud and error for benefits administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and local authorities.
8.听Housing Benefit Debt Recoveries data: collection processes and accuracy
Data collection
The table below details the list of questions asked to听LAs听as part of the data collection process.
| Field | Overpayment Questions |
|---|---|
| 1 | Total value of HB overpayments outstanding at the start of the quarter |
| 2 | Total value of HB overpayments identified during the quarter |
| 3 | Total value of HB overpayments recovered during the quarter |
| 4 | Total value of HB overpayments written off during the quarter |
LAs are asked to provide a breakdown between overpaid 鈥淩ent Allowance鈥� (HB paid to LA tenants) and 鈥淩ent Rebate鈥� (HB paid to housing association and private sector tenants). Where this breakdown is available it is shown in the 鈥渟upplementary tables鈥�.
Average data return rates
| Collection Period | Percentage of HB caseload covered by the HBDR returns |
|---|---|
| FYE 2009 | 74.0% |
| FYE 2010 | 96.5% |
| FYE 2011 | 96.3% |
| FYE 2012 | 97.9% |
| FYE 2013 | 98.7 % |
| FYE 2014 | 99.1% |
| FYE 2015 | 99.3% |
| FYE 2016 | 99.9% |
| FYE 2017 | 99.3% |
| FYE 2018 | 100.0% |
| FYE 2019 | 100.0% |
| FYE 2020 | 99.9% |
| FYE 2021 | 99.3% |
| FYE 2022 | 99.2% |
| FYE 2023 | 99.6% |
| FYE 2024 | 99.2% |
| Q1 and Q2 FYE 2025 | 98.9% |
9.听Further information
Our听background information document provides further information on the HBDR听statistics, including some of the processes involved in developing and releasing these statistics.
Data tables听containing data that underpin the charts and figures featured in this statistical summary are also published.
To help user understanding of the levels of overpayments recovered and written off we plan to present existing information in a graphical way in the September bulletin and future bulletins. The amount of debt recovered and written off is dependent on the amount of debt available, therefore the graph will aim to provide more context by presenting it as a percentage of the stock at the start of the period plus new debts identified during the period.
National Statistics status
The UK Statistics Authority has designated these statistics as Accredited Official Statistics (previously National Statistics), at June 2012, in accordance with the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 and signifying compliance with the听.
Accredited Official Statistics status means that our statistics meet the highest standards of:
-
trustworthiness
-
quality
-
public value
Once statistics have been designated as Accredited Official Statistics it is our responsibility to maintain compliance with these standards. In order to assess the quality of the HBDR statistics, in July 2021, LAs were sent a survey, asking them a number of questions about how they complete their returns. Information collected on this survey has been incorporated into the background information document.
Other National and Official Statistics
See the schedule of statistical releases听over the next 12 months and a list of the most recent releases.
Feedback
Specific听HBDR听statistics feedback can be submitted via our听HBDR听user questionnaire.
Completed questionnaires can be returned by email to听cbm.stats@dwp.gov.uk
Users can also join the听鈥溾�� community. DWP announces items of interest to users via this forum, as well as replying to users鈥� questions
Lead Statistician: Gill Leighton cbm.stats@dwp.gov.uk
Statistical Producer: Brooke Avey
Press enquiries should be directed to the DWP Press Office.
ISBN: 978-1-78659-803-5