DWP · NAO · TaxPayers' Alliance
How much does the UK spend on benefits?
National totals come from the NAO review of DWP accounts for 2025-26. Area figures cover six benefits for England and Wales and show how spending per person differs between council areas and constituencies.
UK benefits spending by benefit, 2025-26
- Other benefits paid directly by DWP£151.9bn
- State Pension£145.8bn
- Universal Credit£79.2bn
- Personal Independence Payment£28.5bn
- Grants to local authorities mostly Housing Benefit£13.5bn
- Housing Benefit£12.9bn
- Attendance Allowance£8.5bn
- Disability Living Allowance£8.3bn
- Employment and Support Allowance£7.0bn
- Pension Credit£6.1bn
- Carer's Allowance£4.6bn
Component lines overlap the DWP total and should not be summed with it.
Benefits spending per person: highest council areas
| # | Area | Per person | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hackney | £4,032 | £1.1bn |
| 2 | Enfield | £3,820 | £1.3bn |
| 3 | Haringey | £3,574 | £951.4m |
| 4 | Blackpool | £3,531 | £506.7m |
| 5 | Liverpool | £3,442 | £1.7bn |
| 6 | Islington | £3,433 | £770.8m |
| 7 | Brent | £3,431 | £1.2bn |
| 8 | Blaenau Gwent | £3,410 | £230.5m |
| 9 | Knowsley | £3,398 | £556.4m |
| 10 | Birmingham | £3,367 | £4.0bn |
Highest total benefits spending: council areas
Highest benefits spending per person: constituencies
See all 575 constituencies rankedCovers six benefits only: Universal Credit, PIP, Housing Benefit, DLA, Carer's Allowance and ESA. Excludes the State Pension, the largest welfare line. Compiled by the TaxPayers' Alliance from DWP Stat-Xplore, not a DWP borough publication. England and Wales, £133.1 billion in the 12 months to March 2026. Do not add this to the council budget: Housing Benefit is in both.
UK benefits spending: common questions
How much does the UK spend on the State Pension?
£145.8bn in 2025-26 (NAO report on DWP accounts).
How much does the UK spend on Universal Credit?
£79.2bn in 2025-26.
Which area has the highest benefits spending per person?
Hackney ranks first among local authorities at £4,032 per resident, and Hackney North and Stoke Newington first among constituencies at £4,745.
Where does the area-level benefits data come from?
Covers six benefits only: Universal Credit, PIP, Housing Benefit, DLA, Carer's Allowance and ESA. Excludes the State Pension, the largest welfare line. Compiled by the TaxPayers' Alliance from DWP Stat-Xplore, not a DWP borough publication. England and Wales, £133.1 billion in the 12 months to March 2026. Do not add this to the council budget: Housing Benefit is in both.