10 June 1983 – 11 June 1987
Benefits during the Conservative 1983–1987 government
Summary
| Metric | Level when government took office | Latest | Change during government |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total benefit expenditureDWP · £ million | £31.6bnYear ending March 1983 | £44.9bnYear ending March 1987 | ↑ 42.0%+£13.3bn · 4 periods |
| Total benefit expenditure, real termsDWP · £ million | £124.5bnYear ending March 1983 | £145.3bnYear ending March 1987 | ↑ 16.7%+£20.8bn · 4 periods |
| Benefit expenditure on pensionersDWP · £ million | £17.1bnYear ending March 1983 | £23.5bnYear ending March 1987 | ↑ 37.0%+£6.3bn · 4 periods |
| Benefit expenditure on working-age peopleDWP · £ million | £9.8bnYear ending March 1983 | £15.3bnYear ending March 1987 | ↑ 55.7%+£5.5bn · 4 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 | £639mYear ending March 1983 | £1.3bnYear ending March 1987 | ↑ 102.3%+£654m · 4 periods |
| Disability benefits caseloadDWP · people | 602,000Year ending March 1983 | 1,033,000Year ending March 1987 | ↑ 71.6%+431,000 · 4 periods |
| State Pension expenditureDWP · £ million | £13.6bnYear ending March 1983 | £17.8bnYear ending March 1987 | ↑ 31.1%+£4.2bn · 4 periods |
| State Pension caseloadDWP · people | 9,164,000Year ending March 1983 | 9,627,000Year ending March 1987 | ↑ 5.1%+463,000 · 4 periods |
| Pension Credit expenditureDWP · £ million | £0mYear ending March 1983 | £0mYear ending March 1987 | → £0m · 4 periods |
| Carer's Allowance expenditureDWP · £ million | £8mYear ending March 1983 | £104mYear ending March 1987 | ↑ 1,200.0%+£96m · 4 periods |
| Carer's Allowance caseloadDWP · people | 8,000Year ending March 1983 | 33,000Year ending March 1987 | ↑ 312.5%+25,000 · 4 periods |
| Housing support expenditureDWP · £ million | £2.1bnYear ending March 1983 | £3.4bnYear ending March 1987 | ↑ 60.5%+£1.3bn · 4 periods |
| Housing support caseloadDWP · households | 4,431,000Year ending March 1983 | 4,900,000Year ending March 1987 | ↑ 10.6%+469,000 · 4 periods |
| Incapacity benefits expenditureDWP · £ million | £2.6bnYear ending March 1983 | £3.7bnYear ending March 1987 | ↑ 43.6%+£1.1bn · 4 periods |
| Incapacity benefits caseloadDWP · people | 1,387,000Year ending March 1983 | 1,446,000Year ending March 1987 | ↑ 4.3%+59,000 · 4 periods |
| Net social benefits paidONS · £ million | No complete period was published before this government took office. | ||
Total benefit expenditure
Inherited Year ending March 1983: £31.6bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 1987: £44.9bn.
Total benefit expenditure, real terms
Inherited Year ending March 1983: £124.5bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 1987: £145.3bn.
Benefit expenditure on pensioners
Inherited Year ending March 1983: £17.1bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 1987: £23.5bn.
Benefit expenditure on working-age people
Inherited Year ending March 1983: £9.8bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 1987: £15.3bn.
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 1983: £639m £ million. Latest Year ending March 1987: £1.3bn.
Disability benefits caseload
Inherited Year ending March 1983: 602,000 people. Latest Year ending March 1987: 1,033,000.
State Pension expenditure
Inherited Year ending March 1983: £13.6bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 1987: £17.8bn.
State Pension caseload
Inherited Year ending March 1983: 9,164,000 people. Latest Year ending March 1987: 9,627,000.
Pension Credit expenditure
Inherited Year ending March 1983: £0m £ million. Latest Year ending March 1987: £0m.
Carer's Allowance expenditure
Inherited Year ending March 1983: £8m £ million. Latest Year ending March 1987: £104m.
Carer's Allowance caseload
Inherited Year ending March 1983: 8,000 people. Latest Year ending March 1987: 33,000.
Housing support expenditure
Inherited Year ending March 1983: £2.1bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 1987: £3.4bn.
Housing support caseload
Inherited Year ending March 1983: 4,431,000 households. Latest Year ending March 1987: 4,900,000.
Incapacity benefits expenditure
Inherited Year ending March 1983: £2.6bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 1987: £3.7bn.
Incapacity benefits caseload
Inherited Year ending March 1983: 1,387,000 people. Latest Year ending March 1987: 1,446,000.
Net social benefits paid
No complete period was published before this government took office.