Benefit expenditure on working-age people during the Conservative 2017–2019 government
Year ending March 2017 → Year ending March 2019 · 2 periods
↑ 10.8%+£5.9bn £ million
Benefit expenditure on working-age people rose by 10.8% over the period, from £54.2bn £ million (Year ending March 2017, the level when the government took office) to £60.1bn (Year ending March 2019, the last complete period before it left office).
Inherited level Year ending March 2017: £54.2bn
Level when it left Year ending March 2019: £60.1bn
method: latest complete period before start / before end
Changes during this period do not by themselves show what the government caused. Statistics reflect many influences, including earlier decisions, the economy and how the data is collected.
Published valueProvisional or revisedLatestShaded bands: governments (see labels)Hover or use arrow keys to read a value
Definition and caveats
DWP benefit spending on people of working age in the financial year, in cash terms, including Universal Credit, disability and incapacity benefits and housing support.
Doesn’t measure: Whether recipients are in work: Universal Credit is paid to many working households.