1. Deriving a reliable measure of household income – DWP
Joanna Littlechild
Head of Surveys
10 February 2015

2. What is the Family Resources Survey?
The Family Resources Survey (FRS) is an annual household survey which collects detailed information on the income and circumstances of individuals living in private households.
The FRS collects data from a representative sample of 20,000 UK households across the financial year (April-March).
Interviews conducted face-to-face by a Consortium consisting of ONS/Nat Cen and NISRA in NI.
The survey is sponsored by DWP and designed to meet DWP needs. It has been running since October 1992.
EU-SILC has been part of FRS since 2012

3. FRS data collection to dataset production and publication
The questionnairre is key to the quality of any outputs.
We review the content annually.
Specialist software (BLAISE) used to collect the information during the interview.
Valued and experienced fieldforce to achieve effective interviews.
Data processing – benefits editing, imputation, validation checks, user testing, grossing

4. Using FRS Survey Data
The FRS is a household survey and so subject to the nuances of using survey data, including:
SAMPLE SIZE
SAMPLING ERROR
SURVEY DESIGN
NON-RESPONSE ERROR
SURVEY COVERAGE

5. Pensions Policy Institute Family Resources Survey
Who uses the FRS?
Outside Government
Government (OGD)
Pensions Policy Institute
HMT
UK Data Service
( UKDS )
HMRC
Northern Ireland
( DSDNI )
DWP
Households Below
Average Income
New Policy Institute
Scottish Government
Pensioner Incomes
Institute of
Fiscal Studies
( IFS )
Communities and Local Government
Policy Simulation
Family Resources Survey
EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions
Housing Policy Division
Pensions analysts
News and Media

6. Households Below Average Income
Provides an analysis of the income distribution
Data on income inequality
Different population groups
Different measures of poverty
Numerous breakdowns into sub groups, characteristics
All based on good quality FRS data

7. What is Income Poverty?
The UK does not have an official definition of poverty – cross-sectional measures are:
Relative Low Income
The proportion of population living in households where income is less than 60 per cent of median household income
Absolute Low Income
The proportion of population living in households where income in real terms is less than 60 per cent of median household income in 2010/11
Material Deprivation
Indication that a family lacks the ability to purchase key goods or services – questions that can only be asked in a survey

8. HBAI Reliable income statistics
Analysis based on large-scale household survey
Data collected on detailed income components, adjustments for those with high incomes
Independent checking of HBAI dataset – additional quality assurance step
Improved commentary and publication over the last 3 years. Last year worked closely with the National Statistician’s Good Practice Team.
Comprehensive analysis published on gov.uk