All abbreviations used in this report are written in full when they are first used. For easy reference the more commonly used abbreviations are listed below.
| AACT | Average Actual Clearance Time |
| AD | Area Directorate |
| BA | Benefits Agency |
| BACS | Bank Automated Clearing System |
| BFI | Benefit Fraud Inspectorate |
| BFIS | Benefit Fraud Investigation Service |
| BS | British Standard |
| CAB | Citizens Advice Bureau |
| CAS | Central Adjudication Services |
| CBO | Chief Benefits Officer |
| ChB | Child Benefit |
| CPS | Crown Prosecution Service |
| CTB | Council Tax Benefit |
| DA | District Audit |
| DETR | Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions |
| DFO | Designated Fraud Officer |
| DLA | Disability Living Allowance |
| DSS | Department of Social Security |
| EP | Extended Payment |
| ES | Employment Service |
| HA | Housing Association |
| HB | Housing Benefit |
| HBMS | Housing Benefit Matching Service |
| HMO | House in Multiple Occupation |
| IA | Internal Audit |
| IS | Income Support |
| ISCS | Income Support Computer System |
| IT | Information Technology |
| IUC | Interview Under Caution |
| JSA | Jobseeker’s Allowance |
| JSA(IB) | Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance |
| JSAPS | Jobseeker’s Allowance Payment System |
| LA | Local Authority |
| NCV | New Claims Visit |
| NINO | National Insurance number |
| PTD | Pre-Tenancy Determination |
| RAT | Remote Access Terminal |
| RO | Rent Officer |
| ROS | Rent Officer Service |
| SABC | Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council |
| SBO | Senior Benefits Officer |
| SLA | Service Level Agreement |
| SoS | Secretary of State |
| VF | Verification Framework |
| WBS | Weekly Benefit Savings |