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England · single-tier councils · 2024-25

Waltham Forest Council budget and spending

Waltham Forest Council had net current service expenditure of £593.5m in 2024-25, about £2,092 for each of its 283,713 residents. By total budget it is 61st highest of 185 single-tier councils.

Net service spending, 2024-25
£593.5m
Spend per resident
£2,092
88th of 185 single-tier councils
Population (mid-2025)
283,713
ONS mid-year estimate
Rank by total budget
61st
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 Waltham Forest Council spends its money

Waltham Forest Council spending by service, 2024-25
  • Education£260.6m

    43.9% of the budget

  • Adult social care£111.6m

    18.8% of the budget

  • Children's social care£73.1m

    12.3% of the budget

  • Central and other£47.3m

    8.0% of the budget

  • Housing£36.4m

    6.1% of the budget

  • Environment£22.2m

    3.7% of the budget

  • Public health£21.2m

    3.6% of the budget

  • Culture£9.2m

    1.5% of the budget

  • Highways and transport£8.3m

    1.4% of the budget

  • Planning£3.6m

    0.6% 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 Waltham Forest

Across six benefits, £729.6m was paid out in Waltham Forest in the 12 months to March 2026, about £2,572 per resident. That is 61st highest of 315 areas per person and 46th by total pounds, and 20.1% above the England and Wales figure of £2,142.

Benefits paid in Waltham Forest by benefit, 12 months to March 2026
  • Universal Credit£501.0m
  • Personal Independence Payment£117.6m
  • Housing Benefit£75.5m
  • Disability Living Allowance£33.3m
  • Carer's Allowance£20.4m
  • Employment and Support Allowance£13.4m

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

Waltham Forest Council: common questions

How much does Waltham Forest Council spend?

Waltham Forest Council had net current service expenditure of £593.5m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.

How much does Waltham Forest Council spend per resident?

About £2,092 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £593.5m and an ONS population estimate of 283,713. That is 88th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

What does Waltham Forest Council spend most on?

Education is the largest service line at £260.6m, 43.9% of the 2024-25 budget.

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

Adult and children's social care together take 31.1% of net service spending in 2024-25.

How much is spent on benefits in Waltham Forest?

£729.6m 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 £2,572 per resident. That ranks 61st of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.