13 December 2019 – 5 July 2024
Benefits during the Conservative 2019–2024 government
Summary
| Metric | Level when government took office | Latest | Change during government |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total benefit expenditureDWP · £ million | £183.8bnYear ending March 2019 | £267.9bnYear ending March 2024 | ↑ 45.7%+£84bn · 5 periods |
| Total benefit expenditure, real termsDWP · £ million | £245.7bnYear ending March 2019 | £293.5bnYear ending March 2024 | ↑ 19.4%+£47.8bn · 5 periods |
| Benefit expenditure on pensionersDWP · £ million | £121.6bnYear ending March 2019 | £155.2bnYear ending March 2024 | ↑ 27.6%+£33.6bn · 5 periods |
| Benefit expenditure on working-age peopleDWP · £ million | £60.1bnYear ending March 2019 | £108.9bnYear ending March 2024 | ↑ 81.2%+£48.8bn · 5 periods |
| Universal Credit and equivalents, expenditureDWP · £ million | No complete period was published before this government took office. | ||
| Universal Credit caseloadDWP · households | No complete period was published before this government took office. | ||
| Disability benefits expenditureDWP · £ million | £24.6bnYear ending March 2019 | £35.5bnYear ending March 2024 | ↑ 44.5%+£10.9bn · 5 periods |
| Disability benefits caseloadDWP · people | 5,278,000Year ending March 2019 | 5,958,000Year ending March 2024 | ↑ 12.9%+680,000 · 5 periods |
| State Pension expenditureDWP · £ million | £96.7bnYear ending March 2019 | £124.1bnYear ending March 2024 | ↑ 28.3%+£27.4bn · 5 periods |
| State Pension caseloadDWP · people | 12,724,000Year ending March 2019 | 12,776,000Year ending March 2024 | ↑ 0.4%+52,000 · 5 periods |
| Pension Credit expenditureDWP · £ million | £5.1bnYear ending March 2019 | £5.5bnYear ending March 2024 | ↑ 6.4%+£327.3m · 5 periods |
| Carer's Allowance expenditureDWP · £ million | £2.9bnYear ending March 2019 | £3.7bnYear ending March 2024 | ↑ 29.6%+£852.8m · 5 periods |
| Carer's Allowance caseloadDWP · people | 1,219,000Year ending March 2019 | 1,258,000Year ending March 2024 | ↑ 3.2%+39,000 · 5 periods |
| Housing support expenditureDWP · £ million | £20.7bnYear ending March 2019 | £32.2bnYear ending March 2024 | ↑ 55.3%+£11.5bn · 5 periods |
| Housing support caseloadDWP · households | 3,984,000Year ending March 2019 | 2,351,000Year ending March 2024 | ↓ 41.0%−1,633,000 · 5 periods |
| Incapacity benefits expenditureDWP · £ million | £16.3bnYear ending March 2019 | £25.4bnYear ending March 2024 | ↑ 55.4%+£9bn · 5 periods |
| Incapacity benefits caseloadDWP · people | 2,227,000Year ending March 2019 | 3,291,000Year ending March 2024 | ↑ 47.8%+1,064,000 · 5 periods |
| Net social benefits paidONS · £ million | £17.9bnNovember 2019 | £25.6bnJune 2024 | ↑ 42.9%+£7.7bn · 55 periods |
Total benefit expenditure
Inherited Year ending March 2019: £183.8bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 2024: £267.9bn.
Total benefit expenditure, real terms
Inherited Year ending March 2019: £245.7bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 2024: £293.5bn.
Benefit expenditure on pensioners
Inherited Year ending March 2019: £121.6bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 2024: £155.2bn.
Benefit expenditure on working-age people
Inherited Year ending March 2019: £60.1bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 2024: £108.9bn.
Universal Credit and equivalents, expenditure
No complete period was published before this government took office.
Universal Credit caseload
No complete period was published before this government took office.
Disability benefits expenditure
Inherited Year ending March 2019: £24.6bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 2024: £35.5bn.
Disability benefits caseload
Inherited Year ending March 2019: 5,278,000 people. Latest Year ending March 2024: 5,958,000.
State Pension expenditure
Inherited Year ending March 2019: £96.7bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 2024: £124.1bn.
State Pension caseload
Inherited Year ending March 2019: 12,724,000 people. Latest Year ending March 2024: 12,776,000.
Pension Credit expenditure
Inherited Year ending March 2019: £5.1bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 2024: £5.5bn.
Carer's Allowance expenditure
Inherited Year ending March 2019: £2.9bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 2024: £3.7bn.
Carer's Allowance caseload
Inherited Year ending March 2019: 1,219,000 people. Latest Year ending March 2024: 1,258,000.
Housing support expenditure
Inherited Year ending March 2019: £20.7bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 2024: £32.2bn.
Housing support caseload
Inherited Year ending March 2019: 3,984,000 households. Latest Year ending March 2024: 2,351,000.
Incapacity benefits expenditure
Inherited Year ending March 2019: £16.3bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 2024: £25.4bn.
Incapacity benefits caseload
Inherited Year ending March 2019: 2,227,000 people. Latest Year ending March 2024: 3,291,000.
Net social benefits paid
Inherited November 2019: £17.9bn £ million. Latest June 2024: £25.6bn.