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England · single-tier councils · 2024-25

Lewisham Council budget and spending

Lewisham Council had net current service expenditure of £777.9m in 2024-25, about £2,584 for each of its 301,037 residents. By total budget it is 27th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

Net service spending, 2024-25
£777.9m
Spend per resident
£2,584
56th of 185 single-tier councils
Population (mid-2025)
301,037
ONS mid-year estimate
Rank by total budget
27th
of 185 single-tier councils

This is the council budget only (net current service expenditure). NHS, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest are not included. In two-tier counties, education and social care sit with the county, not the district.

Where Lewisham Council spends its money

Lewisham Council spending by service, 2024-25
  • Education£360.3m

    46.3% of the budget

  • Children's social care£120.8m

    15.5% of the budget

  • Adult social care£120.1m

    15.4% of the budget

  • Housing£54.3m

    7.0% of the budget

  • Environment£33.3m

    4.3% of the budget

  • Public health£31.2m

    4.0% of the budget

  • Central and other£24.0m

    3.1% of the budget

  • Planning£14.7m

    1.9% of the budget

  • Culture£11.6m

    1.5% of the budget

  • Highways and transport£7.6m

    1.0% of the budget

Single-tier councils (unitary, metropolitan, London borough and Scottish and Welsh councils) run every local service in their area, so they are compared with each other.

Benefits spending in Lewisham

Across six benefits, £949.7m was paid out in Lewisham in the 12 months to March 2026, about £3,155 per resident. That is 15th highest of 315 areas per person and 21st by total pounds, and 47.3% above the England and Wales figure of £2,142.

Benefits paid in Lewisham by benefit, 12 months to March 2026
  • Universal Credit£637.2m
  • Personal Independence Payment£143.9m
  • Housing Benefit£135.5m
  • Disability Living Allowance£38.0m
  • Carer's Allowance£18.8m
  • Employment and Support Allowance£17.4m

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.

Councils with similar spend per resident

Lewisham Council: common questions

How much does Lewisham Council spend?

Lewisham Council had net current service expenditure of £777.9m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.

How much does Lewisham Council spend per resident?

About £2,584 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £777.9m and an ONS population estimate of 301,037. That is 56th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

What does Lewisham Council spend most on?

Education is the largest service line at £360.3m, 46.3% of the 2024-25 budget.

How much of Lewisham Council's budget goes on social care?

Adult and children's social care together take 31.0% of net service spending in 2024-25.

How much is spent on benefits in Lewisham?

£949.7m was paid out in the 12 months to March 2026 on six benefits (Universal Credit, PIP, Housing Benefit, DLA, Carer's Allowance and ESA), about £3,155 per resident. That ranks 15th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.