8 May 2015 – 9 June 2017
Benefits during the Conservative 2015–2017 government
Summary
| Metric | Level when government took office | Latest | Change during government |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total benefit expenditureDWP · £ million | £168.4bnYear ending March 2015 | £173.9bnYear ending March 2017 | ↑ 3.3%+£5.5bn · 2 periods |
| Total benefit expenditure, real termsDWP · £ million | £239.4bnYear ending March 2015 | £240.7bnYear ending March 2017 | ↑ 0.6%+£1.4bn · 2 periods |
| Benefit expenditure on pensionersDWP · £ million | £114.1bnYear ending March 2015 | £117.7bnYear ending March 2017 | ↑ 3.2%+£3.6bn · 2 periods |
| Benefit expenditure on working-age peopleDWP · £ million | £52.4bnYear ending March 2015 | £54.2bnYear ending March 2017 | ↑ 3.4%+£1.8bn · 2 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 | £20.9bnYear ending March 2015 | £22.3bnYear ending March 2017 | ↑ 6.6%+£1.4bn · 2 periods |
| Disability benefits caseloadDWP · people | 5,031,000Year ending March 2015 | 5,278,000Year ending March 2017 | ↑ 4.9%+247,000 · 2 periods |
| State Pension expenditureDWP · £ million | £86.5bnYear ending March 2015 | £91.6bnYear ending March 2017 | ↑ 5.9%+£5.1bn · 2 periods |
| State Pension caseloadDWP · people | 12,958,000Year ending March 2015 | 12,930,000Year ending March 2017 | ↓ 0.2%−28,000 · 2 periods |
| Pension Credit expenditureDWP · £ million | £6.6bnYear ending March 2015 | £5.7bnYear ending March 2017 | ↓ 13.8%−£910.5m · 2 periods |
| Carer's Allowance expenditureDWP · £ million | £2.3bnYear ending March 2015 | £2.7bnYear ending March 2017 | ↑ 15.0%+£347.8m · 2 periods |
| Carer's Allowance caseloadDWP · people | 1,108,000Year ending March 2015 | 1,210,000Year ending March 2017 | ↑ 9.2%+102,000 · 2 periods |
| Housing support expenditureDWP · £ million | £24.3bnYear ending March 2015 | £23.4bnYear ending March 2017 | ↓ 3.6%−£876m · 2 periods |
| Housing support caseloadDWP · households | 4,921,000Year ending March 2015 | 4,594,000Year ending March 2017 | ↓ 6.6%−327,000 · 2 periods |
| Incapacity benefits expenditureDWP · £ million | £14.3bnYear ending March 2015 | £15.4bnYear ending March 2017 | ↑ 7.9%+£1.1bn · 2 periods |
| Incapacity benefits caseloadDWP · people | 2,531,000Year ending March 2015 | 2,491,000Year ending March 2017 | ↓ 1.6%−40,000 · 2 periods |
| Net social benefits paidONS · £ million | £18.2bnApril 2015 | £18.4bnMay 2017 | ↑ 1.0%+£182m · 25 periods |
Total benefit expenditure
Inherited Year ending March 2015: £168.4bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 2017: £173.9bn.
Total benefit expenditure, real terms
Inherited Year ending March 2015: £239.4bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 2017: £240.7bn.
Benefit expenditure on pensioners
Inherited Year ending March 2015: £114.1bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 2017: £117.7bn.
Benefit expenditure on working-age people
Inherited Year ending March 2015: £52.4bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 2017: £54.2bn.
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 2015: £20.9bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 2017: £22.3bn.
Disability benefits caseload
Inherited Year ending March 2015: 5,031,000 people. Latest Year ending March 2017: 5,278,000.
State Pension expenditure
Inherited Year ending March 2015: £86.5bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 2017: £91.6bn.
State Pension caseload
Inherited Year ending March 2015: 12,958,000 people. Latest Year ending March 2017: 12,930,000.
Pension Credit expenditure
Inherited Year ending March 2015: £6.6bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 2017: £5.7bn.
Carer's Allowance expenditure
Inherited Year ending March 2015: £2.3bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 2017: £2.7bn.
Carer's Allowance caseload
Inherited Year ending March 2015: 1,108,000 people. Latest Year ending March 2017: 1,210,000.
Housing support expenditure
Inherited Year ending March 2015: £24.3bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 2017: £23.4bn.
Housing support caseload
Inherited Year ending March 2015: 4,921,000 households. Latest Year ending March 2017: 4,594,000.
Incapacity benefits expenditure
Inherited Year ending March 2015: £14.3bn £ million. Latest Year ending March 2017: £15.4bn.
Incapacity benefits caseload
Inherited Year ending March 2015: 2,531,000 people. Latest Year ending March 2017: 2,491,000.
Net social benefits paid
Inherited April 2015: £18.2bn £ million. Latest May 2017: £18.4bn.