Working paper: Total incomes of MSD main benefit clients as at April 2022

We have developed a new dataset that explores the full range of financial support main benefit clients receive – known as their ‘total income’. This includes main benefit payments, supplementary or hardship assistance, tax credits, housing support, and income from working while on a benefit.

Development of this dataset is part of the welfare overhaul work programme and follows Recommendation 5 of the Welfare Expert Advisory Group report, which stated MSD should begin annually reporting a measure of client income.This working paper provides an initial view of total weekly income for main benefit clients as at the end of April 2022. Moving forward, we intend to produce an annual publication, which will monitor changes in clients’ income over time.