Benefit expenditure on working-age people during the Labour 2005–2010 government
Year ending March 2005 → Year ending March 2010 · 5 periods
↑ 38.4%+£13.7bn £ million
Benefit expenditure on working-age people rose by 38.4% over the period, from £35.7bn £ million (Year ending March 2005, the level when the government took office) to £49.4bn (Year ending March 2010, the last complete period before it left office).
Inherited level Year ending March 2005: £35.7bn
Level when it left Year ending March 2010: £49.4bn
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.