[
  {
    "id": "caseload-attendance-allowance-2025-26",
    "label": "Attendance Allowance caseload",
    "plain": "How many people received Attendance Allowance in 2025-26.",
    "value": 1775000,
    "unit": "count",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "n/a",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1c!CC7",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "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."
  },
  {
    "id": "caseload-carers-allowance-2025-26",
    "label": "Carer's Allowance caseload",
    "plain": "How many people received Carer's Allowance in 2025-26.",
    "value": 1404000,
    "unit": "count",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "n/a",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1c!CC11",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "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."
  },
  {
    "id": "caseload-dla-2025-26",
    "label": "DLA caseload",
    "plain": "How many people received DLA in 2025-26.",
    "value": 1378000,
    "unit": "count",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "n/a",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1c!CC20",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "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."
  },
  {
    "id": "caseload-esa-2025-26",
    "label": "ESA caseload",
    "plain": "How many people received ESA in 2025-26.",
    "value": 961000,
    "unit": "count",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "n/a",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1c!CC24",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "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."
  },
  {
    "id": "caseload-housing-benefit-2025-26",
    "label": "Housing Benefit caseload",
    "plain": "How many people received Housing Benefit in 2025-26.",
    "value": 1569000,
    "unit": "count",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "n/a",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1c!CC30",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "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."
  },
  {
    "id": "caseload-pension-credit-2025-26",
    "label": "Pension Credit caseload",
    "plain": "How many people received Pension Credit in 2025-26.",
    "value": 1382000,
    "unit": "count",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "n/a",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1c!CC50",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "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."
  },
  {
    "id": "caseload-pip-2025-26",
    "label": "PIP caseload",
    "plain": "How many people received PIP in 2025-26.",
    "value": 3878000,
    "unit": "count",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "n/a",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1c!CC51",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "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."
  },
  {
    "id": "caseload-state-pension-2025-26",
    "label": "State Pension caseload",
    "plain": "How many people received State Pension in 2025-26.",
    "value": 13204000,
    "unit": "count",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "n/a",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1c!CC55",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "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."
  },
  {
    "id": "caseload-statutory-maternity-pay-2025-26",
    "label": "Statutory Maternity Pay caseload",
    "plain": "How many people received Statutory Maternity Pay in 2025-26.",
    "value": 264000,
    "unit": "count",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "n/a",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1c!CC56",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "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."
  },
  {
    "id": "caseload-universal-credit-2025-26",
    "label": "Universal Credit caseload",
    "plain": "How many people received Universal Credit in 2025-26.",
    "value": 6404000,
    "unit": "count",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "n/a",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1c!CC58",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "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."
  },
  {
    "id": "caseload-winter-fuel-payment-2025-26",
    "label": "Winter Fuel Payment caseload",
    "plain": "How many people received Winter Fuel Payment in 2025-26.",
    "value": 10891000,
    "unit": "count",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "n/a",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1c!CC62",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "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."
  },
  {
    "id": "dwp-benefit-payments-2025-26",
    "label": "Benefit and pension payments",
    "plain": "Money paid out to people as benefits and pensions",
    "value": 311.2,
    "unit": "gbp_bn",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "headline"
    ],
    "source": "nao-dwp-overview-2025-26",
    "locator": "Key facts / spending section",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": ""
  },
  {
    "id": "dwp-efficiencies-2025-26",
    "label": "Efficiency savings reported by DWP",
    "plain": "Savings DWP says it made by working more efficiently",
    "value": 186,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "administration",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "nao-dwp-overview-2025-26",
    "locator": "Efficiencies section (target £170m)",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": ""
  },
  {
    "id": "dwp-fte-2026-03",
    "label": "DWP group staff (full-time equivalent)",
    "plain": "Number of people working for DWP, counted as full-time posts",
    "value": 89000,
    "unit": "count",
    "period": "2026-03",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "n/a",
    "stage": "administration",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "nao-dwp-overview-2025-26",
    "locator": "Staff section — 'just over 89,000'",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "Published as 'just over 89,000'; exact figure in ARA 2025-26 (R-10)."
  },
  {
    "id": "dwp-other-spend-2025-26",
    "label": "Other DWP spending (not benefits, not staff)",
    "plain": "Running costs other than staff — IT, buildings, contractors and other items",
    "value": 3.8,
    "unit": "gbp_bn",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "administration",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "nao-dwp-overview-2025-26",
    "locator": "Derived",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": {
      "formula": "total - benefits - staff",
      "inputs": {
        "total": "dwp-total-spend-2025-26",
        "benefits": "dwp-benefit-payments-2025-26",
        "staff": "dwp-staff-costs-2025-26"
      }
    },
    "notes": "A residual, not a published line. Breakdown needed: see gap-dwp-admin-cost-by-benefit."
  },
  {
    "id": "dwp-staff-costs-2024-25",
    "label": "DWP staff costs",
    "plain": "Staff costs the year before",
    "value": 4.5,
    "unit": "gbp_bn",
    "period": "2024-25",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "administration",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "nao-dwp-overview-2025-26",
    "locator": "Staff section (prior-year comparator)",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": ""
  },
  {
    "id": "dwp-staff-costs-2025-26",
    "label": "DWP staff costs",
    "plain": "What DWP spent on its own staff",
    "value": 4.9,
    "unit": "gbp_bn",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "administration",
    "tags": [
      "headline"
    ],
    "source": "nao-dwp-overview-2025-26",
    "locator": "Staff section",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": ""
  },
  {
    "id": "dwp-total-spend-2024-25",
    "label": "Total DWP expenditure",
    "plain": "Everything DWP spent the year before",
    "value": 298.0,
    "unit": "gbp_bn",
    "period": "2024-25",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "allocation",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "nao-dwp-overview-2025-26",
    "locator": "Key facts / spending section (prior-year comparator)",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": ""
  },
  {
    "id": "dwp-total-spend-2025-26",
    "label": "Total DWP expenditure",
    "plain": "Everything the Department for Work and Pensions spent in the year",
    "value": 319.9,
    "unit": "gbp_bn",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "allocation",
    "tags": [
      "headline"
    ],
    "source": "nao-dwp-overview-2025-26",
    "locator": "Key facts / spending section",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": ""
  },
  {
    "id": "fe-fraud-rate-2025-26",
    "label": "Overpayment rate due to fraud",
    "plain": "Share of benefit spending lost specifically to fraud (not mistakes)",
    "value": 2.2,
    "unit": "pct",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "leakage",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "fullfact-benefits-faq",
    "locator": "Benefit fraud paragraph",
    "status": "secondary",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "Reported by Full Fact and The Canary citing DWP FYE2026 release; verify (R-03)."
  },
  {
    "id": "fe-overpayments-2024-25",
    "label": "Benefit overpaid through fraud and error",
    "plain": "Overpayments the year before",
    "value": 9.4,
    "unit": "gbp_bn",
    "period": "2024-25",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "leakage",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "nao-dwp-overview-2025-26",
    "locator": "Fraud and error section (prior year)",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": ""
  },
  {
    "id": "fe-overpayments-2025-26",
    "label": "Benefit overpaid through fraud and error",
    "plain": "Money paid that people were not entitled to, through fraud or mistakes",
    "value": 9.9,
    "unit": "gbp_bn",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "leakage",
    "tags": [
      "headline"
    ],
    "source": "nao-dwp-overview-2025-26",
    "locator": "Fraud and error section",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "NAO describes this as excluding State Pension; verify scope against DWP FYE2026 release (R-03)."
  },
  {
    "id": "fe-overpayments-rate-2024-25",
    "label": "Overpayment rate",
    "plain": "Share overpaid the year before",
    "value": 3.3,
    "unit": "pct",
    "period": "2024-25",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "leakage",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "nao-dwp-overview-2025-26",
    "locator": "Fraud and error section (prior year)",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": ""
  },
  {
    "id": "fe-overpayments-rate-2025-26",
    "label": "Overpayment rate",
    "plain": "Share of benefit spending overpaid",
    "value": 3.2,
    "unit": "pct",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "leakage",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "nao-dwp-overview-2025-26",
    "locator": "Fraud and error section",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": ""
  },
  {
    "id": "fe-uc-overpayments-2025-26",
    "label": "Universal Credit overpaid",
    "plain": "Overpayments on Universal Credit alone",
    "value": 6.7,
    "unit": "gbp_bn",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "leakage",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "nao-dwp-overview-2025-26",
    "locator": "Fraud and error section — 'over two-thirds of overpayments by value'",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": ""
  },
  {
    "id": "fe-underpay-official-error-2025-26",
    "label": "Underpaid due to DWP's own errors",
    "plain": "Underpayments caused by mistakes made by DWP staff or systems",
    "value": 1.2,
    "unit": "gbp_bn",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "leakage",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "nao-dwp-overview-2025-26",
    "locator": "Fraud and error section — underpayments",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": ""
  },
  {
    "id": "fe-underpay-unfulfilled-2025-26",
    "label": "Underpaid due to 'unfulfilled eligibility'",
    "plain": "Underpayments where claimants were entitled to more but it was not identified (highest for disability benefits)",
    "value": 3.7,
    "unit": "gbp_bn",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "leakage",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "nao-dwp-overview-2025-26",
    "locator": "Fraud and error section — underpayments",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": ""
  },
  {
    "id": "fe-underpayments-2025-26",
    "label": "Benefit underpaid",
    "plain": "Money people were entitled to but did not get, because of mistakes or missing information",
    "value": 4.9,
    "unit": "gbp_bn",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "leakage",
    "tags": [
      "headline"
    ],
    "source": "nao-dwp-overview-2025-26",
    "locator": "Fraud and error section — underpayments",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": ""
  },
  {
    "id": "fe-underpayments-rate-2025-26",
    "label": "Underpayment rate",
    "plain": "Share of benefit spending underpaid",
    "value": 1.6,
    "unit": "pct",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "leakage",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "nao-dwp-overview-2025-26",
    "locator": "Fraud and error section — underpayments",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": ""
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-attendance-allowance-2025-26-real",
    "label": "Attendance Allowance (real terms)",
    "plain": "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.",
    "value": 8668,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "real-2026-27",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1b!CC7",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, real terms, 2026/27 prices, as published. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-attendance-allowance-2025-26",
    "label": "Attendance Allowance",
    "plain": "A payment for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care because of a disability or illness. Spending in 2025-26.",
    "value": 8497,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "benefit-spend"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1a!CC7",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, nominal terms, as published (rounded to whole £m). DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-attendance-allowance-2026-27",
    "label": "Attendance Allowance (forecast)",
    "plain": "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.",
    "value": 9228,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2026-27",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "forecast"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1a!CD7",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, nominal terms, forecast for 2026-27 in the Spring Forecast 2026 edition."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-carers-allowance-2025-26-real",
    "label": "Carer's Allowance (real terms)",
    "plain": "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.",
    "value": 4672,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "real-2026-27",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1b!CC9",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, real terms, 2026/27 prices, as published. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-carers-allowance-2025-26",
    "label": "Carer's Allowance",
    "plain": "A payment for people who spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone with a disability. Spending in 2025-26.",
    "value": 4580,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "benefit-spend"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1a!CC9",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, nominal terms, as published (rounded to whole £m). DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-carers-allowance-2026-27",
    "label": "Carer's Allowance (forecast)",
    "plain": "A payment for people who spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone with a disability. Forecast spending in 2026-27.",
    "value": 5025,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2026-27",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "forecast"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1a!CD9",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, nominal terms, forecast for 2026-27 in the Spring Forecast 2026 edition."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-child-benefit-2025-26-real",
    "label": "Child Benefit (real terms)",
    "plain": "A payment for anyone responsible for a child, paid for each child. Spending, UK-wide.",
    "value": 13.7,
    "unit": "gbp_bn",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "UK",
    "basis": "real-2026-27",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "UK_welfare_!AH31",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "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."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-child-benefit-2025-26",
    "label": "Child Benefit",
    "plain": "A payment for anyone responsible for a child, paid for each child. Spending, UK-wide.",
    "value": 13.4,
    "unit": "gbp_bn",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "UK",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "UK_welfare_!AH10",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "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."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-child-benefit-2026-27",
    "label": "Child Benefit (forecast)",
    "plain": "A payment for anyone responsible for a child, paid for each child. Spending, UK-wide.",
    "value": 13.7,
    "unit": "gbp_bn",
    "period": "2026-27",
    "geography": "UK",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "forecast"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "UK_welfare_!AI10",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "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."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-dla-2025-26-real",
    "label": "DLA (real terms)",
    "plain": "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.",
    "value": 8456,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "real-2026-27",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1b!CC18",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, real terms, 2026/27 prices, as published. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-dla-2025-26",
    "label": "DLA",
    "plain": "A payment for children with a disability, and for adults who were already receiving it before PIP replaced it. Spending in 2025-26.",
    "value": 8289,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "benefit-spend"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1a!CC18",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, nominal terms, as published (rounded to whole £m). DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-dla-2026-27",
    "label": "DLA (forecast)",
    "plain": "A payment for children with a disability, and for adults who were already receiving it before PIP replaced it. Forecast spending in 2026-27.",
    "value": 8884,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2026-27",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "forecast"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1a!CD18",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, nominal terms, forecast for 2026-27 in the Spring Forecast 2026 edition."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-esa-2025-26-real",
    "label": "ESA (real terms)",
    "plain": "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.",
    "value": 7173,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "real-2026-27",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1b!CC22",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, real terms, 2026/27 prices, as published. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-esa-2025-26",
    "label": "ESA",
    "plain": "A payment for people who cannot work because of illness or disability, now largely replaced by Universal Credit. Spending in 2025-26.",
    "value": 7032,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "benefit-spend"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1a!CC22",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, nominal terms, as published (rounded to whole £m). DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-esa-2026-27",
    "label": "ESA (forecast)",
    "plain": "A payment for people who cannot work because of illness or disability, now largely replaced by Universal Credit. Forecast spending in 2026-27.",
    "value": 5305,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2026-27",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "forecast"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1a!CD22",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, nominal terms, forecast for 2026-27 in the Spring Forecast 2026 edition."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-housing-benefit-2025-26-real",
    "label": "Housing Benefit (real terms)",
    "plain": "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.",
    "value": 13151,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "real-2026-27",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1b!CC29",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, real terms, 2026/27 prices, as published. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-housing-benefit-2025-26",
    "label": "Housing Benefit",
    "plain": "Help with rent, now paid mainly to people over State Pension age and to people in supported or temporary housing. Spending in 2025-26.",
    "value": 12893,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "benefit-spend"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1a!CC29",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, nominal terms, as published (rounded to whole £m). DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-housing-benefit-2026-27",
    "label": "Housing Benefit (forecast)",
    "plain": "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.",
    "value": 12474,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2026-27",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "forecast"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1a!CD29",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, nominal terms, forecast for 2026-27 in the Spring Forecast 2026 edition."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-pension-credit-2025-26-real",
    "label": "Pension Credit (real terms)",
    "plain": "A top-up for people over State Pension age whose income is below a set level. Spending in 2025-26, in 2026-27 prices.",
    "value": 6268,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "real-2026-27",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1b!CC54",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, real terms, 2026/27 prices, as published. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-pension-credit-2025-26",
    "label": "Pension Credit",
    "plain": "A top-up for people over State Pension age whose income is below a set level. Spending in 2025-26.",
    "value": 6144,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "benefit-spend"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1a!CC54",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, nominal terms, as published (rounded to whole £m). DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-pension-credit-2026-27",
    "label": "Pension Credit (forecast)",
    "plain": "A top-up for people over State Pension age whose income is below a set level. Forecast spending in 2026-27.",
    "value": 6055,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2026-27",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "forecast"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1a!CD54",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, nominal terms, forecast for 2026-27 in the Spring Forecast 2026 edition."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-pip-2025-26-real",
    "label": "PIP (real terms)",
    "plain": "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.",
    "value": 29115,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "real-2026-27",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1b!CC55",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, real terms, 2026/27 prices, as published. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-pip-2025-26",
    "label": "PIP",
    "plain": "A payment for people aged 16 to State Pension age whose health condition or disability makes daily life harder. Spending in 2025-26.",
    "value": 28542,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "benefit-spend"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1a!CC55",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, nominal terms, as published (rounded to whole £m). DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-pip-2026-27",
    "label": "PIP (forecast)",
    "plain": "A payment for people aged 16 to State Pension age whose health condition or disability makes daily life harder. Forecast spending in 2026-27.",
    "value": 32100,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2026-27",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "forecast"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1a!CD55",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, nominal terms, forecast for 2026-27 in the Spring Forecast 2026 edition."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-state-pension-2025-26-real",
    "label": "State Pension (real terms)",
    "plain": "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.",
    "value": 149001,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "real-2026-27",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1b!CC63",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, real terms, 2026/27 prices, as published. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-state-pension-2025-26",
    "label": "State Pension",
    "plain": "The regular payment to people who have reached State Pension age, based on their National Insurance record. Spending in 2025-26.",
    "value": 146071,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "benefit-spend"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1a!CC63",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, nominal terms, as published (rounded to whole £m). DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-state-pension-2026-27",
    "label": "State Pension (forecast)",
    "plain": "The regular payment to people who have reached State Pension age, based on their National Insurance record. Forecast spending in 2026-27.",
    "value": 154175,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2026-27",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "forecast"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1a!CD63",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, nominal terms, forecast for 2026-27 in the Spring Forecast 2026 edition."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-statutory-maternity-pay-2025-26-real",
    "label": "Statutory Maternity Pay (real terms)",
    "plain": "Pay for employees while they are on maternity leave. Spending in 2025-26, in 2026-27 prices.",
    "value": 3259,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "real-2026-27",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1b!CC67",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, real terms, 2026/27 prices, as published. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-statutory-maternity-pay-2025-26",
    "label": "Statutory Maternity Pay",
    "plain": "Pay for employees while they are on maternity leave. Spending in 2025-26.",
    "value": 3195,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "benefit-spend"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1a!CC67",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, nominal terms, as published (rounded to whole £m). DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-statutory-maternity-pay-2026-27",
    "label": "Statutory Maternity Pay (forecast)",
    "plain": "Pay for employees while they are on maternity leave. Forecast spending in 2026-27.",
    "value": 3317,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2026-27",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "forecast"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1a!CD67",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, nominal terms, forecast for 2026-27 in the Spring Forecast 2026 edition."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-total-benefits-2025-26-real",
    "label": "All benefits in the DWP tables (real terms)",
    "plain": "Every benefit and pension in the tables added together, in today's prices.",
    "value": 315257,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "real-2026-27",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1b!CC80",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, real terms, 2026/27 prices. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. Excludes Child Benefit and tax credits (HMRC)."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-total-benefits-2025-26",
    "label": "All benefits in the DWP tables",
    "plain": "Every benefit and pension in the tables added together, before deducting anything overpaid.",
    "value": 309058,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "headline"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1a!CC80",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, nominal terms. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn. Excludes Child Benefit and tax credits (HMRC)."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-universal-credit-2025-26-real",
    "label": "Universal Credit (real terms)",
    "plain": "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.",
    "value": 80797,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "real-2026-27",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1b!CC72",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, real terms, 2026/27 prices, as published. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-universal-credit-2025-26",
    "label": "Universal Credit",
    "plain": "The single monthly payment for people on a low income or out of work; it replaced six older benefits. Spending in 2025-26.",
    "value": 79208,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "benefit-spend"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1a!CC72",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, nominal terms, as published (rounded to whole £m). DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-universal-credit-2026-27",
    "label": "Universal Credit (forecast)",
    "plain": "The single monthly payment for people on a low income or out of work; it replaced six older benefits. Forecast spending in 2026-27.",
    "value": 87649,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2026-27",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "forecast"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1a!CD72",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, nominal terms, forecast for 2026-27 in the Spring Forecast 2026 edition."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-winter-fuel-payment-2025-26-real",
    "label": "Winter Fuel Payment (real terms)",
    "plain": "A yearly payment towards heating costs for people over State Pension age. Spending in 2025-26, in 2026-27 prices.",
    "value": 1950,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "real-2026-27",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1b!CC77",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, real terms, 2026/27 prices, as published. DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-winter-fuel-payment-2025-26",
    "label": "Winter Fuel Payment",
    "plain": "A yearly payment towards heating costs for people over State Pension age. Spending in 2025-26.",
    "value": 1912,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "benefit-spend"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1a!CC77",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, nominal terms, as published (rounded to whole £m). DWP labels 2025-26 a forecast, not outturn."
  },
  {
    "id": "spend-winter-fuel-payment-2026-27",
    "label": "Winter Fuel Payment (forecast)",
    "plain": "A yearly payment towards heating costs for people over State Pension age. Forecast spending in 2026-27.",
    "value": 1911,
    "unit": "gbp_m",
    "period": "2026-27",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "nominal",
    "stage": "payments",
    "tags": [
      "forecast"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "Table_1a!CD77",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "£ million, nominal terms, forecast for 2026-27 in the Spring Forecast 2026 edition."
  },
  {
    "id": "welfare-total-2025-26-real-bec",
    "label": "Total welfare spending (real terms)",
    "plain": "All welfare spending across the UK in 2025-26, in 2026-27 prices.",
    "value": 340.5,
    "unit": "gbp_bn",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "UK",
    "basis": "real-2026-27",
    "stage": "allocation",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "UK_welfare_!AH39",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "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."
  },
  {
    "id": "welfare-total-2025-26-real",
    "label": "Total welfare spending",
    "plain": "All DWP benefits and pensions in 2025-26, in 2026-27 prices",
    "value": 329.1,
    "unit": "gbp_bn",
    "period": "2025-26",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "real-2026-27",
    "stage": "allocation",
    "tags": [],
    "source": "fullfact-benefits-faq",
    "locator": "Opening section",
    "status": "disputed",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "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."
  },
  {
    "id": "welfare-total-2026-27-real-bec",
    "label": "Total welfare spending (real terms)",
    "plain": "All welfare spending across the UK in 2026-27 forecast, in 2026-27 prices.",
    "value": 354.2,
    "unit": "gbp_bn",
    "period": "2026-27",
    "geography": "UK",
    "basis": "real-2026-27",
    "stage": "allocation",
    "tags": [
      "forecast"
    ],
    "source": "dwp-bec-tables-2026",
    "locator": "UK_welfare_!AI39",
    "status": "verified",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "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."
  },
  {
    "id": "welfare-total-2026-27-real",
    "label": "Total welfare spending, forecast",
    "plain": "Forecast for all DWP benefits and pensions next year, in today's prices",
    "value": 342.8,
    "unit": "gbp_bn",
    "period": "2026-27",
    "geography": "GB",
    "basis": "real-2026-27",
    "stage": "allocation",
    "tags": [
      "forecast"
    ],
    "source": "fullfact-benefits-faq",
    "locator": "Opening section",
    "status": "disputed",
    "superseded_by": null,
    "derived": null,
    "notes": "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."
  }
]