GSS Welfare, wellbeing and housing workplan

The Department for Work and Pensions’ Statistical Work Programme (SWP) sets out ongoing and future developments to DWP Official Statistics, covering key areas such as welfare, housing, income and employment. It consolidates both publication-specific updates and broader cross-cutting improvements, reflecting the department’s use of varied data sources, methodologies and technologies—including enhanced dissemination techniques and digital tools.

The SWP underlines DWP’s commitment to providing trustworthy, high-quality, and good value statistics, while maintaining openness and transparency in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics, and ensuring that users and stakeholders are involved in shaping future priorities and delivery approaches over the next three years.

Priority areas of activity for 2026

As above, continue to provide informative statistics that are trustworthy, high quality and represent good value in line with the DWP Statistical Work Programme (SWP).

The activities described in the DWP Statistical Work Programme (SWP) relate to existing statistical publications, their improvement and in some cases the development of new statistical outputs to meet user needs.

Are you planning any substantial changes to existing publications?

Key upcoming developments in DWP statistics include proposed developments to Universal Credit (UC), such as detailed tracking of Mandatory Reconsiderations and Appeals, a review of caseload methodology and the addition of protected characteristics.

The Family Resources Survey will integrate recent Census data for improved accuracy and a technical report on FRS transformation provides information on linking survey and administrative data to transform the departments survey analysis.

Up to date information on all developments are released on a monthly basis in the DWP statistical work programme – GOV.UK along with changes delivered.