DWP · 77 periods · £ million
Total benefit expenditure, real terms: full history
| Period | Value | Status | Published in | Source cell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year ending March 2025 2024-04-01 → 2025-03-31 | £304.7bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2024/25” = 304.65937984719085 |
| Year ending March 2024 2023-04-01 → 2024-03-31 | £293.5bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2023/24” = 293.452289231824 |
| Year ending March 2023 2022-04-01 → 2023-03-31 | £268.9bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2022/23” = 268.88226687291234 |
| Year ending March 2022 2021-04-01 → 2022-03-31 | £268.6bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2021/22” = 268.5534245916686 |
| Year ending March 2021 2020-04-01 → 2021-03-31 | £263.9bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2020/21” = 263.8515594868229 |
| Year ending March 2020 2019-04-01 → 2020-03-31 | £250.7bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2019/20” = 250.72115883685578 |
| Year ending March 2019 2018-04-01 → 2019-03-31 | £245.7bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2018/19” = 245.68541209034345 |
| Year ending March 2018 2017-04-01 → 2018-03-31 | £243.5bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2017/18” = 243.49399008651918 |
| Year ending March 2017 2016-04-01 → 2017-03-31 | £240.7bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2016/17” = 240.73280802875945 |
| Year ending March 2016 2015-04-01 → 2016-03-31 | £242.7bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2015/16” = 242.68831759837224 |
| Year ending March 2015 2014-04-01 → 2015-03-31 | £239.4bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2014/15” = 239.37874359421141 |
| Year ending March 2014 2013-04-01 → 2014-03-31 | £236.8bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2013/14” = 236.7890372325997 |
| Year ending March 2013 2012-04-01 → 2013-03-31 | £245.3bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2012/13” = 245.25931815437337 |
| Year ending March 2012 2011-04-01 → 2012-03-31 | £238.1bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2011/12” = 238.14048351000832 |
| Year ending March 2011 2010-04-01 → 2011-03-31 | £234.7bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2010/11” = 234.6809467646934 |
| Year ending March 2010 2009-04-01 → 2010-03-31 | £230.3bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2009/10” = 230.32892521335893 |
| Year ending March 2009 2008-04-01 → 2009-03-31 | £213.9bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2008/09” = 213.8667847791408 |
| Year ending March 2008 2007-04-01 → 2008-03-31 | £206.3bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2007/08” = 206.28975173168828 |
| Year ending March 2007 2006-04-01 → 2007-03-31 | £198.6bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2006/07” = 198.60419478457334 |
| Year ending March 2006 2005-04-01 → 2006-03-31 | £198.7bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2005/06” = 198.69403961191247 |
| Year ending March 2005 2004-04-01 → 2005-03-31 | £195.9bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2004/05” = 195.88452290074787 |
| Year ending March 2004 2003-04-01 → 2004-03-31 | £192.1bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2003/04” = 192.09666588453936 |
| Year ending March 2003 2002-04-01 → 2003-03-31 | £205.2bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2002/03” = 205.20261469183544 |
| Year ending March 2002 2001-04-01 → 2002-03-31 | £202.6bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2001/02” = 202.5956079088006 |
| Year ending March 2001 2000-04-01 → 2001-03-31 | £196.3bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “2000/01” = 196.32877012205824 |
| Year ending March 2000 1999-04-01 → 2000-03-31 | £193.5bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1999/00” = 193.53532497394997 |
| Year ending March 1999 1998-04-01 → 1999-03-31 | £189bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1998/99” = 189.03818389617783 |
| Year ending March 1998 1997-04-01 → 1998-03-31 | £187.2bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1997/98” = 187.24551271770247 |
| Year ending March 1997 1996-04-01 → 1997-03-31 | £185.5bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1996/97” = 185.45897624747963 |
| Year ending March 1996 1995-04-01 → 1996-03-31 | £184.4bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1995/96” = 184.4408524716719 |
| Year ending March 1995 1994-04-01 → 1995-03-31 | £182bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1994/95” = 182.02432084538154 |
| Year ending March 1994 1993-04-01 → 1994-03-31 | £179.8bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1993/94” = 179.75604085099945 |
| Year ending March 1993 1992-04-01 → 1993-03-31 | £168.8bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1992/93” = 168.76941462941255 |
| Year ending March 1992 1991-04-01 → 1992-03-31 | £152.8bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1991/92” = 152.76440765753463 |
| Year ending March 1991 1990-04-01 → 1991-03-31 | £138bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1990/91” = 137.95577194161638 |
| Year ending March 1990 1989-04-01 → 1990-03-31 | £133.2bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1989/90” = 133.2088939858287 |
| Year ending March 1989 1988-04-01 → 1989-03-31 | £135.4bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1988/89” = 135.40421008798276 |
| Year ending March 1988 1987-04-01 → 1988-03-31 | £142.7bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1987/88” = 142.73829459294888 |
| Year ending March 1987 1986-04-01 → 1987-03-31 | £145.3bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1986/87” = 145.28041608869782 |
| Year ending March 1986 1985-04-01 → 1986-03-31 | £140.6bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1985/86” = 140.58120410673047 |
| Year ending March 1985 1984-04-01 → 1985-03-31 | £135.8bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1984/85” = 135.75537510221343 |
| Year ending March 1984 1983-04-01 → 1984-03-31 | £132.7bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1983/84” = 132.7279639957392 |
| Year ending March 1983 1982-04-01 → 1983-03-31 | £124.5bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1982/83” = 124.46651219305267 |
| Year ending March 1982 1981-04-01 → 1982-03-31 | £117bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1981/82” = 117.03444012911444 |
| Year ending March 1981 1980-04-01 → 1981-03-31 | £105.8bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1980/81” = 105.8216892516663 |
| Year ending March 1980 1979-04-01 → 1980-03-31 | £104.4bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1979/80” = 104.4327858356957 |
| Year ending March 1979 1978-04-01 → 1979-03-31 | £103.2bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1978/79” = 103.17874794994547 |
| Year ending March 1978 1977-04-01 → 1978-03-31 | £96.7bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1977/78” = 96.67238043919774 |
| Year ending March 1977 1976-04-01 → 1977-03-31 | £91.4bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1976/77” = 91.42562257254235 |
| Year ending March 1976 1975-04-01 → 1976-03-31 | £87.5bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1975/76” = 87.52746949863266 |
| Year ending March 1975 1974-04-01 → 1975-03-31 | £80.5bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1974/75” = 80.5124028771878 |
| Year ending March 1974 1973-04-01 → 1974-03-31 | £77.3bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1973/74” = 77.27245795847355 |
| Year ending March 1973 1972-04-01 → 1973-03-31 | £74.8bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1972/73” = 74.79003420400268 |
| Year ending March 1972 1971-04-01 → 1972-03-31 | £70.1bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1971/72” = 70.08264352852709 |
| Year ending March 1971 1970-04-01 → 1971-03-31 | £64.8bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1970/71” = 64.81368284979649 |
| Year ending March 1970 1969-04-01 → 1970-03-31 | £66.4bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1969/70” = 66.42255038435427 |
| Year ending March 1969 1968-04-01 → 1969-03-31 | £66.4bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1968/69” = 66.40749608823629 |
| Year ending March 1968 1967-04-01 → 1968-03-31 | £61.5bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1967/68” = 61.455897393870316 |
| Year ending March 1967 1966-04-01 → 1967-03-31 | £55.6bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1966/67” = 55.59581233767904 |
| Year ending March 1966 1965-04-01 → 1966-03-31 | £55.2bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1965/66” = 55.235300974362694 |
| Year ending March 1965 1964-04-01 → 1965-03-31 | £49.2bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1964/65” = 49.179540628386874 |
| Year ending March 1964 1963-04-01 → 1964-03-31 | £49.6bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1963/64” = 49.61825453554377 |
| Year ending March 1963 1962-04-01 → 1963-03-31 | £43.9bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1962/63” = 43.921449992600856 |
| Year ending March 1962 1961-04-01 → 1962-03-31 | £42.7bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1961/62” = 42.73857165293669 |
| Year ending March 1961 1960-04-01 → 1961-03-31 | £39.6bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1960/61” = 39.64976910105077 |
| Year ending March 1960 1959-04-01 → 1960-03-31 | £39.3bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1959/60” = 39.29321313468957 |
| Year ending March 1959 1958-04-01 → 1959-03-31 | £37.6bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1958/59” = 37.64815900422245 |
| Year ending March 1958 1957-04-01 → 1958-03-31 | £31.5bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1957/58” = 31.493684510540813 |
| Year ending March 1957 1956-04-01 → 1957-03-31 | £30.7bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1956/57” = 30.743099857476764 |
| Year ending March 1956 1955-04-01 → 1956-03-31 | £31.4bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1955/56” = 31.35428464331671 |
| Year ending March 1955 1954-04-01 → 1955-03-31 | £29bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1954/55” = 29.040662527409783 |
| Year ending March 1954 1953-04-01 → 1954-03-31 | £28.8bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1953/54” = 28.838822549823412 |
| Year ending March 1953 1952-04-01 → 1953-03-31 | £27.9bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1952/53” = 27.943678492473076 |
| Year ending March 1952 1951-04-01 → 1952-03-31 | £25.2bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1951/52” = 25.249980242072837 |
| Year ending March 1951 1950-04-01 → 1951-03-31 | £25.8bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1950/51” = 25.763974506765557 |
| Year ending March 1950 1949-04-01 → 1950-03-31 | £25.9bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1949/50” = 25.85871672260124 |
| Year ending March 1949 1948-04-01 → 1949-03-31 | £20.9bn | Final | Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026 26 March 2026 | Benefit expenditure, £ billion, real terms, 2026/27 prices · “Total” × “1948/49” = 20.90951127014775 |