Description
Age is taken from 100% data scans of Department’s key benefit systems.
Age is derived from the source data collected on date of birth of the individual.
Age is recorded in years as at the reference date.
Age is recorded in years as at the reference date (second Thursday of the month).
Classification
Age is available as either single year of age, or as age bands.
Applicable to: all claimants:
- Single year of age is available for all ages between 16 and 90 inclusive.
- Age bands: Under 18, 18 to 24, 25 to 34, 35 to 44, 45 to 49, 50 to 54, 55 to 59, 60 to 64, 65 and over.
- 999 Unknown
Total number of categories:
by single year of age: 76
by age band: 10
Quality Statement
The age of claimant (and age of partner of main claimant, if applicable) at the end of the reporting quarter is derived from date of birth. Date of birth is recorded as part of the ESA claim process. In support of the claim, proof of identity must be provided - for example, birth certificate. It is possible that errors can occur in the recording of date of birth (both on the form and inputting onto the computer system). Some limited data cleansing takes place when age is derived from date of birth. An age derived from date of birth which is under 16 or over State Pension Age is recoded to Unknown / missing.
In order to make our statistics as accurate as possible, from February 2020 this field has been checked and verified using the Customer Information System database. The Customer Information System (CIS) is a computer system used by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to store basic identifying information such as gender, addresses, dates of birth, National Insurance numbers and so on.