About this data

Source: DWP, Benefit expenditure and caseload tables: Spring Forecast 2026

• All pensioner benefits include the State Pension, Pension Credit, Winter Fuel Payments and other benefits paid to people over State Pension age. Figures before 1978-79 are for the State Pension only.
• Welfare spending is all social security and tax credit spending in Great Britain. Public spending is total managed expenditure.
• Figures from 2025-26 are DWP forecasts from the Spring Forecast 2026, made before the November 2026 Budget. Adjusted for inflation with HM Treasury's GDP deflator.

This chart appears in Pensions.