Link to any figure with /data/#figure-id. IDs never change. Status: Verified means checked in the primary official document. Unverified means taken from a reputable secondary source and awaiting a primary check.
1. Money allocated
| Figure | Value | Period | Area | Prices | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total DWP expenditure Everything DWP spent the year before
dwp-total-spend-2024-25 | £298.0bn | 2024-25 | GB | cash | Verified | National Audit Office Key facts / spending section (prior-year comparator)
|
| Total DWP expenditure Everything the Department for Work and Pensions spent in the year
dwp-total-spend-2025-26 | £319.9bn | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Verified | National Audit Office Key facts / spending section
|
| Total welfare spending All DWP benefits and pensions in 2025-26, in 2026-27 prices
welfare-total-2025-26-real | £329.1bn | 2025-26 | GB | real, 2026-27 prices | Disputed | Full Fact Opening section
From DWP BEC tables via Full Fact. The BEC 2026 tables (Spring Forecast 2026, UK_welfare_!AH39) give £340.5bn for the UK total in 2025-26 at 2026-27 prices, £11.4bn higher. Coverage differs: this figure is labelled GB, the BEC total is UK-wide and includes Child Benefit, tax credits and Northern Ireland social security. The same £11.4bn gap appears in 2026-27, which points to a different price base from an earlier edition rather than coverage alone. Both figures retained; see welfare-total-2025-26-real-bec. This is not the same measure as the NAO's £311.2bn nominal benefit payments figure. |
| Total welfare spending (real terms) All welfare spending across the UK in 2025-26, in 2026-27 prices.
welfare-total-2025-26-real-bec | £340.5bn | 2025-26 | UK | real, 2026-27 prices | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions UK_welfare_!AH39
UK total: DWP social security (GB), benefits funded by local authorities, Child Benefit, personal tax credits, paternity/parental pay and Northern Ireland social security. Real terms, 2026/27 prices. Excludes Cost of Living payments. |
| Total welfare spending (real terms) All welfare spending across the UK in 2026-27 forecast, in 2026-27 prices.
welfare-total-2026-27-real-bec | £354.2bn | 2026-27 | UK | real, 2026-27 prices | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions UK_welfare_!AI39
UK total: DWP social security (GB), benefits funded by local authorities, Child Benefit, personal tax credits, paternity/parental pay and Northern Ireland social security. Real terms, 2026/27 prices. Excludes Cost of Living payments. |
| Total welfare spending, forecast Forecast for all DWP benefits and pensions next year, in today's prices
welfare-total-2026-27-real | £342.8bn | 2026-27 | GB | real, 2026-27 prices | Disputed | Full Fact Opening section
From DWP BEC tables via Full Fact. The BEC 2026 tables (Spring Forecast 2026, UK_welfare_!AI39) give £354.2bn for the UK total in 2026-27 at 2026-27 prices, £11.4bn higher. Coverage differs: this figure is labelled GB, the BEC total is UK-wide and includes Child Benefit, tax credits and Northern Ireland social security. The same £11.4bn gap appears in 2025-26, which points to a different price base from an earlier edition rather than coverage alone. Both figures retained; see welfare-total-2026-27-real-bec. |
2. Running the system
| Figure | Value | Period | Area | Prices | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DWP group staff (full-time equivalent) Number of people working for DWP, counted as full-time posts
dwp-fte-2026-03 | 89,000 | 2026-03 | GB | — | Verified | National Audit Office Staff section — 'just over 89,000'
Published as 'just over 89,000'; exact figure in ARA 2025-26 (R-10). |
| DWP staff costs Staff costs the year before
dwp-staff-costs-2024-25 | £4.5bn | 2024-25 | GB | cash | Verified | National Audit Office Staff section (prior-year comparator)
|
| DWP staff costs What DWP spent on its own staff
dwp-staff-costs-2025-26 | £4.9bn | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Verified | National Audit Office Staff section
|
| Efficiency savings reported by DWP Savings DWP says it made by working more efficiently
dwp-efficiencies-2025-26 | £186m | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Verified | National Audit Office Efficiencies section (target £170m)
|
| Other DWP spending (not benefits, not staff) Running costs other than staff — IT, buildings, contractors and other items
dwp-other-spend-2025-26 | £3.8bn | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Verified | National Audit Office Derived
=
total - benefits - staffA residual, not a published line. Breakdown needed: see gap-dwp-admin-cost-by-benefit. |
6. Paid to people
| Figure | Value | Period | Area | Prices | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All benefits in the DWP tables Every benefit and pension in the tables added together, before deducting anything overpaid.
spend-total-benefits-2025-26 | £309.1bn | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1a!CC80
£ million, nominal terms. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. Excludes Child Benefit and tax credits (HMRC). |
| All benefits in the DWP tables (real terms) Every benefit and pension in the tables added together, in today's prices.
spend-total-benefits-2025-26-real | £315.3bn | 2025-26 | GB | real, 2026-27 prices | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1b!CC80
£ million, real terms, 2026/27 prices. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. Excludes Child Benefit and tax credits (HMRC). |
| Attendance Allowance A payment for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care because of a disability or illness. Spending in 2025-26.
spend-attendance-allowance-2025-26 | £8.5bn | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1a!CC7
£ million, nominal terms, as published (rounded to whole £m). DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. |
| Attendance Allowance (forecast) A payment for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care because of a disability or illness. Forecast spending in 2026-27.
spend-attendance-allowance-2026-27 | £9.2bn | 2026-27 | GB | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1a!CD7
£ million, nominal terms, forecast for 2026-27 in the Spring Forecast 2026 edition. |
| Attendance Allowance (real terms) A payment for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care because of a disability or illness. Spending in 2025-26, in 2026-27 prices.
spend-attendance-allowance-2025-26-real | £8.7bn | 2025-26 | GB | real, 2026-27 prices | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1b!CC7
£ million, real terms, 2026/27 prices, as published. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. |
| Attendance Allowance caseload How many people received Attendance Allowance in 2025-26.
caseload-attendance-allowance-2025-26 | 1,775,000 | 2025-26 | GB | — | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1c!CC7
Table 1c publishes caseloads in thousands (1,775); recorded here in persons (x1,000). The table gives a financial-year estimate, not a point-in-time count. |
| Benefit and pension payments Money paid out to people as benefits and pensions
dwp-benefit-payments-2025-26 | £311.2bn | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Verified | National Audit Office Key facts / spending section
|
| Carer's Allowance A payment for people who spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone with a disability. Spending in 2025-26.
spend-carers-allowance-2025-26 | £4.6bn | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1a!CC9
£ million, nominal terms, as published (rounded to whole £m). DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. |
| Carer's Allowance (forecast) A payment for people who spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone with a disability. Forecast spending in 2026-27.
spend-carers-allowance-2026-27 | £5.0bn | 2026-27 | GB | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1a!CD9
£ million, nominal terms, forecast for 2026-27 in the Spring Forecast 2026 edition. |
| Carer's Allowance (real terms) A payment for people who spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone with a disability. Spending in 2025-26, in 2026-27 prices.
spend-carers-allowance-2025-26-real | £4.7bn | 2025-26 | GB | real, 2026-27 prices | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1b!CC9
£ million, real terms, 2026/27 prices, as published. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. |
| Carer's Allowance caseload How many people received Carer's Allowance in 2025-26.
caseload-carers-allowance-2025-26 | 1,404,000 | 2025-26 | GB | — | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1c!CC11
Table 1c publishes caseloads in thousands (1,404); recorded here in persons (x1,000). The table gives a financial-year estimate, not a point-in-time count. |
| Child Benefit A payment for anyone responsible for a child, paid for each child. Spending, UK-wide.
spend-child-benefit-2025-26 | £13.4bn | 2025-26 | UK | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions UK_welfare_!AH10
Child Benefit is administered by HMRC, so it is outside the GB DWP table and appears only in the UK welfare summary in £ billion. Not part of the GB 'benefit-spend' chart. |
| Child Benefit (forecast) A payment for anyone responsible for a child, paid for each child. Spending, UK-wide.
spend-child-benefit-2026-27 | £13.7bn | 2026-27 | UK | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions UK_welfare_!AI10
Child Benefit is administered by HMRC, so it is outside the GB DWP table and appears only in the UK welfare summary in £ billion. Not part of the GB 'benefit-spend' chart. |
| Child Benefit (real terms) A payment for anyone responsible for a child, paid for each child. Spending, UK-wide.
spend-child-benefit-2025-26-real | £13.7bn | 2025-26 | UK | real, 2026-27 prices | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions UK_welfare_!AH31
Child Benefit is administered by HMRC, so it is outside the GB DWP table and appears only in the UK welfare summary in £ billion. Not part of the GB 'benefit-spend' chart. |
| DLA A payment for children with a disability, and for adults who were already receiving it before PIP replaced it. Spending in 2025-26.
spend-dla-2025-26 | £8.3bn | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1a!CC18
£ million, nominal terms, as published (rounded to whole £m). DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. |
| DLA (forecast) A payment for children with a disability, and for adults who were already receiving it before PIP replaced it. Forecast spending in 2026-27.
spend-dla-2026-27 | £8.9bn | 2026-27 | GB | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1a!CD18
£ million, nominal terms, forecast for 2026-27 in the Spring Forecast 2026 edition. |
| DLA (real terms) A payment for children with a disability, and for adults who were already receiving it before PIP replaced it. Spending in 2025-26, in 2026-27 prices.
spend-dla-2025-26-real | £8.5bn | 2025-26 | GB | real, 2026-27 prices | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1b!CC18
£ million, real terms, 2026/27 prices, as published. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. |
| DLA caseload How many people received DLA in 2025-26.
caseload-dla-2025-26 | 1,378,000 | 2025-26 | GB | — | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1c!CC20
Table 1c publishes caseloads in thousands (1,378); recorded here in persons (x1,000). The table gives a financial-year estimate, not a point-in-time count. |
| ESA A payment for people who cannot work because of illness or disability, now largely replaced by Universal Credit. Spending in 2025-26.
spend-esa-2025-26 | £7.0bn | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1a!CC22
£ million, nominal terms, as published (rounded to whole £m). DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. |
| ESA (forecast) A payment for people who cannot work because of illness or disability, now largely replaced by Universal Credit. Forecast spending in 2026-27.
spend-esa-2026-27 | £5.3bn | 2026-27 | GB | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1a!CD22
£ million, nominal terms, forecast for 2026-27 in the Spring Forecast 2026 edition. |
| ESA (real terms) A payment for people who cannot work because of illness or disability, now largely replaced by Universal Credit. Spending in 2025-26, in 2026-27 prices.
spend-esa-2025-26-real | £7.2bn | 2025-26 | GB | real, 2026-27 prices | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1b!CC22
£ million, real terms, 2026/27 prices, as published. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. |
| ESA caseload How many people received ESA in 2025-26.
caseload-esa-2025-26 | 961,000 | 2025-26 | GB | — | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1c!CC24
Table 1c publishes caseloads in thousands (961); recorded here in persons (x1,000). The table gives a financial-year estimate, not a point-in-time count. |
| Housing Benefit Help with rent, now paid mainly to people over State Pension age and to people in supported or temporary housing. Spending in 2025-26.
spend-housing-benefit-2025-26 | £12.9bn | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1a!CC29
£ million, nominal terms, as published (rounded to whole £m). DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. |
| Housing Benefit (forecast) Help with rent, now paid mainly to people over State Pension age and to people in supported or temporary housing. Forecast spending in 2026-27.
spend-housing-benefit-2026-27 | £12.5bn | 2026-27 | GB | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1a!CD29
£ million, nominal terms, forecast for 2026-27 in the Spring Forecast 2026 edition. |
| Housing Benefit (real terms) Help with rent, now paid mainly to people over State Pension age and to people in supported or temporary housing. Spending in 2025-26, in 2026-27 prices.
spend-housing-benefit-2025-26-real | £13.2bn | 2025-26 | GB | real, 2026-27 prices | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1b!CC29
£ million, real terms, 2026/27 prices, as published. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. |
| Housing Benefit caseload How many people received Housing Benefit in 2025-26.
caseload-housing-benefit-2025-26 | 1,569,000 | 2025-26 | GB | — | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1c!CC30
Table 1c publishes caseloads in thousands (1,569); recorded here in persons (x1,000). The table gives a financial-year estimate, not a point-in-time count. |
| PIP A payment for people aged 16 to State Pension age whose health condition or disability makes daily life harder. Spending in 2025-26.
spend-pip-2025-26 | £28.5bn | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1a!CC55
£ million, nominal terms, as published (rounded to whole £m). DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. |
| PIP (forecast) A payment for people aged 16 to State Pension age whose health condition or disability makes daily life harder. Forecast spending in 2026-27.
spend-pip-2026-27 | £32.1bn | 2026-27 | GB | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1a!CD55
£ million, nominal terms, forecast for 2026-27 in the Spring Forecast 2026 edition. |
| PIP (real terms) A payment for people aged 16 to State Pension age whose health condition or disability makes daily life harder. Spending in 2025-26, in 2026-27 prices.
spend-pip-2025-26-real | £29.1bn | 2025-26 | GB | real, 2026-27 prices | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1b!CC55
£ million, real terms, 2026/27 prices, as published. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. |
| PIP caseload How many people received PIP in 2025-26.
caseload-pip-2025-26 | 3,878,000 | 2025-26 | GB | — | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1c!CC51
Table 1c publishes caseloads in thousands (3,878); recorded here in persons (x1,000). The table gives a financial-year estimate, not a point-in-time count. |
| Pension Credit A top-up for people over State Pension age whose income is below a set level. Spending in 2025-26.
spend-pension-credit-2025-26 | £6.1bn | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1a!CC54
£ million, nominal terms, as published (rounded to whole £m). DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. |
| Pension Credit (forecast) A top-up for people over State Pension age whose income is below a set level. Forecast spending in 2026-27.
spend-pension-credit-2026-27 | £6.1bn | 2026-27 | GB | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1a!CD54
£ million, nominal terms, forecast for 2026-27 in the Spring Forecast 2026 edition. |
| Pension Credit (real terms) A top-up for people over State Pension age whose income is below a set level. Spending in 2025-26, in 2026-27 prices.
spend-pension-credit-2025-26-real | £6.3bn | 2025-26 | GB | real, 2026-27 prices | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1b!CC54
£ million, real terms, 2026/27 prices, as published. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. |
| Pension Credit caseload How many people received Pension Credit in 2025-26.
caseload-pension-credit-2025-26 | 1,382,000 | 2025-26 | GB | — | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1c!CC50
Table 1c publishes caseloads in thousands (1,382); recorded here in persons (x1,000). The table gives a financial-year estimate, not a point-in-time count. |
| State Pension The regular payment to people who have reached State Pension age, based on their National Insurance record. Spending in 2025-26.
spend-state-pension-2025-26 | £146.1bn | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1a!CC63
£ million, nominal terms, as published (rounded to whole £m). DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. |
| State Pension (forecast) The regular payment to people who have reached State Pension age, based on their National Insurance record. Forecast spending in 2026-27.
spend-state-pension-2026-27 | £154.2bn | 2026-27 | GB | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1a!CD63
£ million, nominal terms, forecast for 2026-27 in the Spring Forecast 2026 edition. |
| State Pension (real terms) The regular payment to people who have reached State Pension age, based on their National Insurance record. Spending in 2025-26, in 2026-27 prices.
spend-state-pension-2025-26-real | £149.0bn | 2025-26 | GB | real, 2026-27 prices | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1b!CC63
£ million, real terms, 2026/27 prices, as published. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. |
| State Pension caseload How many people received State Pension in 2025-26.
caseload-state-pension-2025-26 | 13,204,000 | 2025-26 | GB | — | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1c!CC55
Table 1c publishes caseloads in thousands (13,204); recorded here in persons (x1,000). The table gives a financial-year estimate, not a point-in-time count. |
| Statutory Maternity Pay Pay for employees while they are on maternity leave. Spending in 2025-26.
spend-statutory-maternity-pay-2025-26 | £3.2bn | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1a!CC67
£ million, nominal terms, as published (rounded to whole £m). DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. |
| Statutory Maternity Pay (forecast) Pay for employees while they are on maternity leave. Forecast spending in 2026-27.
spend-statutory-maternity-pay-2026-27 | £3.3bn | 2026-27 | GB | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1a!CD67
£ million, nominal terms, forecast for 2026-27 in the Spring Forecast 2026 edition. |
| Statutory Maternity Pay (real terms) Pay for employees while they are on maternity leave. Spending in 2025-26, in 2026-27 prices.
spend-statutory-maternity-pay-2025-26-real | £3.3bn | 2025-26 | GB | real, 2026-27 prices | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1b!CC67
£ million, real terms, 2026/27 prices, as published. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. |
| Statutory Maternity Pay caseload How many people received Statutory Maternity Pay in 2025-26.
caseload-statutory-maternity-pay-2025-26 | 264,000 | 2025-26 | GB | — | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1c!CC56
Table 1c publishes caseloads in thousands (264); recorded here in persons (x1,000). The table gives a financial-year estimate, not a point-in-time count. |
| Universal Credit The single monthly payment for people on a low income or out of work; it replaced six older benefits. Spending in 2025-26.
spend-universal-credit-2025-26 | £79.2bn | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1a!CC72
£ million, nominal terms, as published (rounded to whole £m). DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. |
| Universal Credit (forecast) The single monthly payment for people on a low income or out of work; it replaced six older benefits. Forecast spending in 2026-27.
spend-universal-credit-2026-27 | £87.6bn | 2026-27 | GB | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1a!CD72
£ million, nominal terms, forecast for 2026-27 in the Spring Forecast 2026 edition. |
| Universal Credit (real terms) The single monthly payment for people on a low income or out of work; it replaced six older benefits. Spending in 2025-26, in 2026-27 prices.
spend-universal-credit-2025-26-real | £80.8bn | 2025-26 | GB | real, 2026-27 prices | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1b!CC72
£ million, real terms, 2026/27 prices, as published. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. |
| Universal Credit caseload How many people received Universal Credit in 2025-26.
caseload-universal-credit-2025-26 | 6,404,000 | 2025-26 | GB | — | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1c!CC58
Table 1c publishes caseloads in thousands (6,404); recorded here in persons (x1,000). The table gives a financial-year estimate, not a point-in-time count. |
| Winter Fuel Payment A yearly payment towards heating costs for people over State Pension age. Spending in 2025-26.
spend-winter-fuel-payment-2025-26 | £1.9bn | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1a!CC77
£ million, nominal terms, as published (rounded to whole £m). DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. |
| Winter Fuel Payment (forecast) A yearly payment towards heating costs for people over State Pension age. Forecast spending in 2026-27.
spend-winter-fuel-payment-2026-27 | £1.9bn | 2026-27 | GB | cash | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1a!CD77
£ million, nominal terms, forecast for 2026-27 in the Spring Forecast 2026 edition. |
| Winter Fuel Payment (real terms) A yearly payment towards heating costs for people over State Pension age. Spending in 2025-26, in 2026-27 prices.
spend-winter-fuel-payment-2025-26-real | £1.9bn | 2025-26 | GB | real, 2026-27 prices | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1b!CC77
£ million, real terms, 2026/27 prices, as published. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. |
| Winter Fuel Payment caseload How many people received Winter Fuel Payment in 2025-26.
caseload-winter-fuel-payment-2025-26 | 10,891,000 | 2025-26 | GB | — | Verified | Department for Work and Pensions Table_1c!CC62
Table 1c publishes caseloads in thousands (10,891); recorded here in persons (x1,000). The table gives a financial-year estimate, not a point-in-time count. |
7. Paid wrongly
| Figure | Value | Period | Area | Prices | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benefit overpaid through fraud and error Overpayments the year before
fe-overpayments-2024-25 | £9.4bn | 2024-25 | GB | cash | Verified | National Audit Office Fraud and error section (prior year)
|
| Benefit overpaid through fraud and error Money paid that people were not entitled to, through fraud or mistakes
fe-overpayments-2025-26 | £9.9bn | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Verified | National Audit Office Fraud and error section
NAO describes this as excluding State Pension; verify scope against DWP FYE2026 release (R-03). |
| Benefit underpaid Money people were entitled to but did not get, because of mistakes or missing information
fe-underpayments-2025-26 | £4.9bn | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Verified | National Audit Office Fraud and error section — underpayments
|
| Overpayment rate Share overpaid the year before
fe-overpayments-rate-2024-25 | 3.3% | 2024-25 | GB | cash | Verified | National Audit Office Fraud and error section (prior year)
|
| Overpayment rate Share of benefit spending overpaid
fe-overpayments-rate-2025-26 | 3.2% | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Verified | National Audit Office Fraud and error section
|
| Overpayment rate due to fraud Share of benefit spending lost specifically to fraud (not mistakes)
fe-fraud-rate-2025-26 | 2.2% | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Unverified | Full Fact Benefit fraud paragraph
Reported by Full Fact and The Canary citing DWP FYE2026 release; verify (R-03). |
| Underpaid due to 'unfulfilled eligibility' Underpayments where claimants were entitled to more but it was not identified (highest for disability benefits)
fe-underpay-unfulfilled-2025-26 | £3.7bn | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Verified | National Audit Office Fraud and error section — underpayments
|
| Underpaid due to DWP's own errors Underpayments caused by mistakes made by DWP staff or systems
fe-underpay-official-error-2025-26 | £1.2bn | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Verified | National Audit Office Fraud and error section — underpayments
|
| Underpayment rate Share of benefit spending underpaid
fe-underpayments-rate-2025-26 | 1.6% | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Verified | National Audit Office Fraud and error section — underpayments
|
| Universal Credit overpaid Overpayments on Universal Credit alone
fe-uc-overpayments-2025-26 | £6.7bn | 2025-26 | GB | cash | Verified | National Audit Office Fraud and error section — 'over two-thirds of overpayments by value'
|
Sources
- DWP annual report and accounts 2024 to 2025 — Department for Work and Pensions (2025-07; retrieved 2026-10-27) [official]
- Benefit expenditure and caseload tables 2026 — Department for Work and Pensions (2026-04-14; retrieved 2026-10-27) [official]
- Fraud and error in the benefit system, FYE 2026 estimates — Department for Work and Pensions (2026-05; retrieved 2026-10-27) [official]
- Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up, FYE 2025 — Department for Work and Pensions (2026; retrieved 2026-10-27) [official]
- How much is being spent on benefits? — Full Fact (2026-08; retrieved 2026-10-27) [secondary]
- Department for Work & Pensions overview 2025-26 — National Audit Office (2026-10; retrieved 2026-10-27) [official]
- Tackling benefit overpayments due to fraud and error (summary) — National Audit Office (2025-10; retrieved 2026-10-27) [official]