Total UK spending on social security in a year: the State Pension, working-age benefits, disability and carer support, and child payments combined. Shown in cash terms, so part of any rise reflects inflation rather than more generous support; it is best read against prices. The most recent years are Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts.
Source: DWP Benefit Expenditure and Caseload Tables
Coverage: UK
Nearly half of Britons blame ballooning benefits bill on more people claiming false health issues
Daily Mail · 6 August 2026
Labour members ‘have tougher view on welfare than you might think’, poll suggests
The Guardian · Aletha Adu · 4 August 2026
Labour's Left warns Andy Burnham they will revive their revolt against 'punitive' benefits cuts
Daily Mail · 28 July 2026
Labour backbenchers restart welfare whinging
The Spectator · 28 July 2026
Will Labour ever cut the benefits bill?
The Spectator · Ross Clark · 28 July 2026
Reporting from the left, centre and right of the press.
Andy Burnham wants to cut the benefits bill – these are his main options
The Independent · Albert Toth · 27 July 2026
Labour MPs will accept benefits cuts - on one condition
The i · Neal Lawson · 23 July 2026
Nearly half of Britons blame ballooning benefits bill on more people claiming false health issues
Daily Mail · 6 August 2026
The latest figures across all Welfare metrics.
Welfare Spending as % of GDP
11.2%+0.1%
2030/31
Total Welfare Spending
£409bn+17.0%
2030/31
Welfare Spending · Forecast
£328bn+6.8%
2027/28
Two-Child Limit · Children
1.8m+44.8k
2026
Two-Child Limit · Households
495,990+15.7k
2026
Disability Benefits (PIP)
4m+28.7k
April 2026
Universal Credit Claimants · Households
7.2m+13.6k
February 2026
UC Sanctions
63,025+3.1k
October 2025
Food Bank Use
2.6m−351.8k
2024/25
In-Work Poverty
16.2%+0.2%
2024/25
Child Poverty · Before Housing Costs
20.5%+0.4%
2024/25
Child Poverty · After Housing Costs
27.4%−0.3%
2024/25
Relative Poverty · Before Housing Costs
15.9%+0.7%
2024/25
Relative Poverty · After Housing Costs
19.6%+0.5%
2024/25
Welfare Spending · Outturn
£315bn+27.9%
2024/25
