The take-up rate measures the percentage of eligible people who accept a particular good/service or benefit.
The take-up rate may refer to the percentage of shareholders who accept the opportunity to buy more shares during a public share offering.
Benefit Take-up Rate
The benefit take-up rate measures the percentage of people who claim benefits that they are entitled to. For example, a benefit like income support requires people to fill in forms and prove they are entitled. Not everyone will be aware they are eligible, and if they are aware may be reluctant to go through the procedure.
Estimated Take up Rates of Benefits in the UK
- Income Support and Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related) (IS/ESA (IR)) – Take-up in 2009-10 was in the range 77 per cent to 89 per cent by case-load
- Pension Credit – Take-up in 2009-10 was between 62 per cent and 68 per cent by caseload and between 73 per cent and 80 per cent by expenditure.
- Housing Benefit (including Local Housing Allowance) – Take-up in 2009-10 was in the range 78 per cent to 84 per cent by caseload and 84 per cent to 90 per cent by expenditure.
Estimates of benefit take-up rates at Department for Work and Pensions
Take up by caseload represents the number of people entitled to any benefits.
Take up by expenditure measures the value of total benefits claimed.
Take-up rates by expenditure tend to be higher because those eligible for only small amount have the biggest reason not to bother.
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