How much does the government spend on benefits?
The UK government spent about £305bn on benefits and the state pension in 2024-25, at today's prices. That is 9.9% of the whole economy. £174bn of it went to pensioners and £126bn to working-age adults.
2024-25, at today's prices. up 27% on 2014-15.
2024-25. up 0.9 points on 2014-15.
2024-25. The state pension is the biggest part.
Benefit spending over time
What’s this?
What the UK government spent on benefits and the state pension, in billions of pounds at today's prices.
What it cannot tell you: Spending depends on the number of claimants and the rates paid, and the state pension is a large share because the population is ageing. It is not a measure of living standards for claimants.
What’s this?
Spending on benefits and the state pension as a share of everything the UK economy produces (GDP).
What it cannot tell you: Spending depends on the number of claimants and the rates paid, and the state pension is a large share because the population is ageing. It is not a measure of living standards for claimants.
What’s this?
Spending on the state pension, Pension Credit and other benefits for people above state pension age, at today's prices.
What it cannot tell you: Spending depends on the number of claimants and the rates paid, and the state pension is a large share because the population is ageing. It is not a measure of living standards for claimants.
What’s this?
Spending on benefits for adults of working age, such as Universal Credit, disability benefits and housing support, at today's prices.
What it cannot tell you: Spending depends on the number of claimants and the rates paid, and the state pension is a large share because the population is ageing. It is not a measure of living standards for claimants.
What’s this?
Spending on Child Benefit and other benefits for families with children, at today's prices.
What it cannot tell you: Spending depends on the number of claimants and the rates paid, and the state pension is a large share because the population is ageing. It is not a measure of living standards for claimants.
Year by year
Financial years (April to March), in billions of pounds at today's prices.
| Period | Spending on benefits and the state pension | Spending on benefits as a share of the economy | Spending on benefits for pensioners | Spending on benefits for working-age adults | Spending on benefits for children |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | £305bn | 9.9% | £174bn | £126bn | £4.8bn |
| 2023-24 | £293bn | 9.6% | £170bn | £119bn | £4.1bn |
| 2022-23 | £269bn | 8.8% | £158bn | £107bn | £3.4bn |
| 2021-22 | £269bn | 9.1% | £159bn | £106bn | £3.0bn |
| 2020-21 | £264bn | 10.1% | £156bn | £105bn | £2.8bn |
| 2019-20 | £251bn | 8.5% | £161bn | £86bn | £3.0bn |
| 2018-19 | £246bn | 8.4% | £162bn | £80bn | £2.9bn |
| 2017-18 | £243bn | 8.4% | £163bn | £78bn | £2.7bn |
| 2016-17 | £241bn | 8.6% | £163bn | £75bn | £2.7bn |
| 2015-16 | £243bn | 8.8% | £164bn | £76bn | £2.7bn |
Questions people ask
How much does the UK spend on welfare?
£305bn in 2024-25, at today's prices, covering the state pension and benefits paid by the Department for Work and Pensions and others, and 9.9% of GDP.
Where does most of the money go?
To pensioners: £174bn, against £126bn for working-age adults and £4.8bn for children in 2024-25.
Is this the same as the 'pensions and benefits' figure on the spending page?
No. They use different definitions: the Treasury figure covers all social protection, and this page follows the Department for Work and Pensions' benefit tables. See pensions and benefits spending.
What does “spending on benefits and the state pension” measure?
What the UK government spent on benefits and the state pension, in billions of pounds at today's prices. It was £305bn (£ billion a year, at today's prices) in 2024-25, up 22% on 2019-20. The highest we have is £305bn (2024-25) and the lowest £21bn (1948-49).
What does “spending on benefits as a share of the economy” measure?
Spending on benefits and the state pension as a share of everything the UK economy produces (GDP). It was 9.9% (% of GDP) in 2024-25, up 1.3 points on 2019-20. The highest we have is 10.5% (1993-94) and the lowest 4.6% (1956-57).
What does “spending on benefits for pensioners” measure?
Spending on the state pension, Pension Credit and other benefits for people above state pension age, at today's prices. It was £174bn (£ billion a year, at today's prices) in 2024-25, up 8% on 2019-20. The highest we have is £174bn (2024-25) and the lowest £60bn (1979-80).
What does “spending on benefits for working-age adults” measure?
Spending on benefits for adults of working age, such as Universal Credit, disability benefits and housing support, at today's prices. It was £126bn (£ billion a year, at today's prices) in 2024-25, up 46% on 2019-20. The highest we have is £126bn (2024-25) and the lowest £27bn (1979-80).
Sources: Department for Work and Pensions, Benefit expenditure and caseload tables. Updated every night. Each chart has a CSV and a Share button.
See also: Pensions and benefits spending · Government money