Language
Country/Area
No result found
Demystifying the FRS: How does this survey impact policymaking and social welfare?
The Household Resources Survey (FRS) is one of the largest household surveys in the UK. The survey collects data on the income and characteristics of private households in England and is published, administered and funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The survey is conducted annually by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the British Center for Social Research (NatCen), and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). FRS data underpins England's poverty and child poverty indicators, which form the basis of low income and material deprivation statistics and are presented in the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) report.
History of FRS
Prior to 1992, the DWP relied on other government surveys such as the Household Expenditure Survey (later renamed the Cost of Living and Food Survey) and the General Household Survey. However, the sample size of these surveys did not meet the needs of the DWP, so the FRS was launched in 1992 to provide the information required by the DWP for policy analysis. Surveys have been conducted every year since.
The initial sample size was approximately 26,000 households, which was reduced to 24,000 households in 1997. With Northern Ireland being included in the sample and Scotland being 100% augmented, the UK-wide sample size increased to 29,000 households in 2002. The latest survey sample size exceeds 25,000 households (more than 42,000 adults). The current goal is to visit 20,000 households (more than 33,000 adults) per year, with the average interview duration in recent years being approximately one hour.
The FRS survey questions a wide range of topics, covering income, pensions, child benefits, family characteristics, health status and other topics.
Methodology and Scope
Interviews are usually conducted in the respondent's home and, where possible, all adult residents aged 16 and over are interviewed. The reference period is based on the financial year (April to March) and interviews were conducted at various times throughout the year. FRS only conducts one interview, i.e. there will be no revisits or "waves". To ensure that the sample obtained is representative of all parts of the country, the survey network includes sample stratification, weighting, etc.
The areas selected for FRS are randomly generated and any UK postcode may be selected.
Through these steps and methods, the national sample shows an even distribution of rich and poor areas. Households who take part in the survey will receive a post office voucher worth £10 as a token of thanks. It is important to note that the sample does not include residents living in public facilities (e.g. dormitories, student residences, nursing homes, prisons, etc.) as these are not considered “private” households.
Survey results
FRS data is publicly released in February or March every year, and the specific release date will be noted on GOV.UK at least four weeks in advance. The most recent results were released on March 21, 2024, and are based on interviews conducted between April 2022 and March 2023. The data release includes comprehensive background and methodology sections, as well as statistical reporting, with several sections exploring the breadth of information collected by the FRS and changes from the previous year's data.
The chapters include topics such as income and state support, housing status, disability, carers, pensions, savings and investments, self-employment, household food security and food bank use, and childcare.
The DWP will review the findings and use them in a Policy Simulation Model (PSM) to assess existing policies and their costs. In addition, data provided by the FRS are used to analyze benefit receipt patterns and benefit forecasting.
Access FRS statistics
FRS data are available through Stat-Xplore, a platform that allows users to create their own tables of FRS results. FRS microdata are also publicly available for download from the UK Data Archive and can be accessed through the ONS's Security Research Service (and its subsequent Integrated Data Service).
Subsequent uses and related publications
The FRS is also the basis for a number of other DWP-certified formal statistics (formerly known as "national statistics"): including below-average income households (including child poverty statistics), retiree income statistics, and estimates of income-related benefit receipt rates (i.e. admission statistics), and separate household statistics.
After detailed analysis of the impact of FRS, this survey not only provides an important basis for the government to formulate policies, but also plays an indispensable role in improving social welfare. In the future, how will these data continue to influence the policy direction of our society?
