{
 "service": "welfare-admin",
 "title": "Work and pensions administration: the cost of running the benefits system",
 "generatedAt": "2026-09-29T01:00:03.501Z",
 "units": "£ million",
 "priceBase": "2025-26 prices",
 "years": [
  "2006-07",
  "2007-08",
  "2008-09",
  "2009-10",
  "2010-11",
  "2011-12",
  "2012-13",
  "2013-14",
  "2014-15",
  "2015-16",
  "2016-17",
  "2017-18",
  "2018-19",
  "2019-20",
  "2020-21",
  "2021-22",
  "2022-23",
  "2023-24",
  "2024-25",
  "2025-26"
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 "root": "uk",
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     "perHeadReal": 13.31,
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     "yoyReal": null,
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     "perHeadReal": 3.5,
     "yoyCash": -71.6,
     "yoyReal": -73.4,
     "population": 65725600
    },
    "2023-24": {
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     "real": 311.1,
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     "perHeadReal": 4.67,
     "yoyCash": 42.4,
     "yoyReal": 35.3,
     "population": 66605800
    },
    "2024-25": {
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     "real": 669.3,
     "perHead": 9.61,
     "perHeadReal": 9.94,
     "yoyCash": 123.9,
     "yoyReal": 115.1,
     "population": 67353600
    },
    "2025-26": {
     "cash": 462,
     "real": 462,
     "perHead": 6.86,
     "perHeadReal": 6.86,
     "yoyCash": -28.6,
     "yoyReal": -31,
     "population": 67353600
    }
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   "sourceIds": [
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   "file": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a4cc0d04889d85e75ab40ed/dwp_annual_report_and_accounts_fye_march_2022_to_fye_march_2030.xlsx",
   "children": [],
   "note": "The cost of administering contributory benefits, charged to the National Insurance Fund. DWP’s line: National Insurance Fund - Core Department.",
   "notPublished": "Not broken down further in DWP’s core tables."
  },
  "dwp-core": {
   "id": "dwp-core",
   "name": "Running the department",
   "level": "category",
   "code": null,
   "codeScheme": "none",
   "nation": "K03000001",
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     "real": 6982,
     "perHead": 88.47,
     "perHeadReal": 107.29,
     "yoyCash": null,
     "yoyReal": null,
     "population": 65073400
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     "real": 6254.9,
     "perHead": 83.99,
     "perHeadReal": 95.17,
     "yoyCash": -4.1,
     "yoyReal": -10.4,
     "population": 65725600
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    "2023-24": {
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     "real": 6179.1,
     "perHead": 86.18,
     "perHeadReal": 92.77,
     "yoyCash": 4,
     "yoyReal": -1.2,
     "population": 66605800
    },
    "2024-25": {
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     "real": 6167.4,
     "perHead": 88.52,
     "perHeadReal": 91.57,
     "yoyCash": 3.9,
     "yoyReal": -0.2,
     "population": 67353600
    },
    "2025-26": {
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     "real": 6693,
     "perHead": 99.37,
     "perHeadReal": 99.37,
     "yoyCash": 12.3,
     "yoyReal": 8.5,
     "population": 67353600
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   "file": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a4cc0d04889d85e75ab40ed/dwp_annual_report_and_accounts_fye_march_2022_to_fye_march_2030.xlsx",
   "children": [],
   "note": "Jobcentres, benefit and service centres, staff, IT, estates and the contracted health assessments: the nearest line to the running cost of the benefits system. DWP’s line: Core Department.",
   "notPublished": "DWP does not publish its running costs by jobcentre, service centre or benefit. Its accounts split them by type (staff costs, goods and services: shown below) and its annual report by business group for the latest year; the contracted health assessments are not a separate line in the tables."
  },
  "dwp-employment": {
   "id": "dwp-employment",
   "name": "Employment programmes",
   "level": "category",
   "code": null,
   "codeScheme": "none",
   "nation": "K03000001",
   "years": {
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     "real": 958.1,
     "perHead": 12.14,
     "perHeadReal": 14.72,
     "yoyCash": null,
     "yoyReal": null,
     "population": 65073400
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    "2022-23": {
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     "real": 923.5,
     "perHead": 12.4,
     "perHeadReal": 14.05,
     "yoyCash": 3.2,
     "yoyReal": -3.6,
     "population": 65725600
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    "2023-24": {
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     "real": 810.6,
     "perHead": 11.31,
     "perHeadReal": 12.17,
     "yoyCash": -7.6,
     "yoyReal": -12.2,
     "population": 66605800
    },
    "2024-25": {
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     "real": 791.4,
     "perHead": 11.36,
     "perHeadReal": 11.75,
     "yoyCash": 1.6,
     "yoyReal": -2.4,
     "population": 67353600
    },
    "2025-26": {
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     "real": 854,
     "perHead": 12.68,
     "perHeadReal": 12.68,
     "yoyCash": 11.6,
     "yoyReal": 7.9,
     "population": 67353600
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   "children": [],
   "note": "Contracted employment support such as Restart and the Work and Health Programme. DWP’s line: Employment Programmes.",
   "notPublished": "Not broken down further in DWP’s core tables."
  },
  "dwp-other-benefits": {
   "id": "dwp-other-benefits",
   "name": "Household Support Fund and other DEL grants",
   "level": "category",
   "code": null,
   "codeScheme": "none",
   "nation": "K03000001",
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     "real": 986,
     "perHead": 12.49,
     "perHeadReal": 15.15,
     "yoyCash": null,
     "yoyReal": null,
     "population": 65073400
    },
    "2022-23": {
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     "real": 1108.2,
     "perHead": 14.88,
     "perHeadReal": 16.86,
     "yoyCash": 20.3,
     "yoyReal": 12.4,
     "population": 65725600
    },
    "2023-24": {
     "cash": 979,
     "real": 1053.9,
     "perHead": 14.7,
     "perHeadReal": 15.82,
     "yoyCash": 0.1,
     "yoyReal": -4.9,
     "population": 66605800
    },
    "2024-25": {
     "cash": 977,
     "real": 1010.7,
     "perHead": 14.51,
     "perHeadReal": 15.01,
     "yoyCash": -0.2,
     "yoyReal": -4.1,
     "population": 67353600
    },
    "2025-26": {
     "cash": 875,
     "real": 875,
     "perHead": 12.99,
     "perHeadReal": 12.99,
     "yoyCash": -10.4,
     "yoyReal": -13.4,
     "population": 67353600
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   },
   "sourceIds": [
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   ],
   "file": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a4cc0d04889d85e75ab40ed/dwp_annual_report_and_accounts_fye_march_2022_to_fye_march_2030.xlsx",
   "children": [],
   "note": "Grants paid through councils and others (the Household Support Fund and its predecessors): money handed on, not running costs. DWP’s line: Other Benefits.",
   "notPublished": "Not broken down further in DWP’s core tables."
  },
  "dwp-local-authorities": {
   "id": "dwp-local-authorities",
   "name": "Support for local authorities",
   "level": "category",
   "code": null,
   "codeScheme": "none",
   "nation": "K03000001",
   "years": {
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     "cash": 214,
     "real": 259.5,
     "perHead": 3.29,
     "perHeadReal": 3.99,
     "yoyCash": null,
     "yoyReal": null,
     "population": 65073400
    },
    "2022-23": {
     "cash": 212,
     "real": 240.2,
     "perHead": 3.23,
     "perHeadReal": 3.65,
     "yoyCash": -0.9,
     "yoyReal": -7.4,
     "population": 65725600
    },
    "2023-24": {
     "cash": 206,
     "real": 221.8,
     "perHead": 3.09,
     "perHeadReal": 3.33,
     "yoyCash": -2.8,
     "yoyReal": -7.7,
     "population": 66605800
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    "2024-25": {
     "cash": 212,
     "real": 219.3,
     "perHead": 3.15,
     "perHeadReal": 3.26,
     "yoyCash": 2.9,
     "yoyReal": -1.1,
     "population": 67353600
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    "2025-26": {
     "cash": 206,
     "real": 206,
     "perHead": 3.06,
     "perHeadReal": 3.06,
     "yoyCash": -2.8,
     "yoyReal": -6.1,
     "population": 67353600
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   },
   "sourceIds": [
    "dwp-core-tables"
   ],
   "file": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a4cc0d04889d85e75ab40ed/dwp_annual_report_and_accounts_fye_march_2022_to_fye_march_2030.xlsx",
   "children": [],
   "note": "Mainly grants to councils for administering Housing Benefit. DWP’s line: Support for Local Authorities.",
   "notPublished": "Not broken down further in DWP’s core tables."
  },
  "dwp-bodies-and-other": {
   "id": "dwp-bodies-and-other",
   "name": "Arm’s-length bodies and other lines",
   "level": "category",
   "code": null,
   "codeScheme": "none",
   "nation": "K03000001",
   "years": {
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     "cash": 437,
     "real": 530,
     "perHead": 6.72,
     "perHeadReal": 8.14,
     "yoyCash": null,
     "yoyReal": null,
     "population": 65073400
    },
    "2022-23": {
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     "real": 478.2,
     "perHead": 6.42,
     "perHeadReal": 7.28,
     "yoyCash": -3.4,
     "yoyReal": -9.8,
     "population": 65725600
    },
    "2023-24": {
     "cash": 449,
     "real": 483.3,
     "perHead": 6.74,
     "perHeadReal": 7.26,
     "yoyCash": 6.4,
     "yoyReal": 1.1,
     "population": 66605800
    },
    "2024-25": {
     "cash": 460,
     "real": 475.8,
     "perHead": 6.83,
     "perHeadReal": 7.06,
     "yoyCash": 2.4,
     "yoyReal": -1.5,
     "population": 67353600
    },
    "2025-26": {
     "cash": 474,
     "real": 474,
     "perHead": 7.04,
     "perHeadReal": 7.04,
     "yoyCash": 3,
     "yoyReal": -0.4,
     "population": 67353600
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   },
   "sourceIds": [
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   ],
   "file": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a4cc0d04889d85e75ab40ed/dwp_annual_report_and_accounts_fye_march_2022_to_fye_march_2030.xlsx",
   "children": [],
   "note": "The Health and Safety Executive, the Money and Pensions Service, the Pensions Regulator and other arm’s-length bodies, Social Fund administration and small lines, net of their income: Health and Safety Executive, Money and Pensions Service, Other arm’s-length bodies, Social Fund administration, Other. The Health and Safety Executive is not part of the benefits system.",
   "notPublished": "Not broken down further in DWP’s core tables."
  },
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   "id": "dwp",
   "name": "Department for Work and Pensions (Great Britain)",
   "level": "body",
   "code": "K03000001",
   "codeScheme": "ons",
   "nation": "K03000001",
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     "real": 12458.4,
     "perHead": 128.82,
     "perHeadReal": 210.86,
     "yoyCash": null,
     "yoyReal": null,
     "population": 59083900
    },
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     "real": 12628.8,
     "perHead": 132.07,
     "perHeadReal": 212.04,
     "yoyCash": 3.4,
     "yoyReal": 1.4,
     "population": 59557400
    },
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     "cash": 7756,
     "real": 12004.7,
     "perHead": 129.17,
     "perHeadReal": 199.93,
     "yoyCash": -1.4,
     "yoyReal": -4.9,
     "population": 60044700
    },
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     "cash": 8547,
     "real": 13060.1,
     "perHead": 141.35,
     "perHeadReal": 215.99,
     "yoyCash": 10.2,
     "yoyReal": 8.8,
     "population": 60467200
    },
    "2010-11": {
     "cash": 8684,
     "real": 13047.4,
     "perHead": 142.47,
     "perHeadReal": 214.05,
     "yoyCash": 1.6,
     "yoyReal": -0.1,
     "population": 60954700
    },
    "2011-12": {
     "cash": 7418,
     "real": 10912.4,
     "perHead": 120.67,
     "perHeadReal": 177.52,
     "yoyCash": -14.6,
     "yoyReal": -16.4,
     "population": 61470900
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     "cash": 7244,
     "real": 10474.8,
     "perHead": 117.05,
     "perHeadReal": 169.26,
     "yoyCash": -2.3,
     "yoyReal": -4,
     "population": 61885900
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    "2013-14": {
     "cash": 7428,
     "real": 10522,
     "perHead": 119.22,
     "perHeadReal": 168.87,
     "yoyCash": 2.5,
     "yoyReal": 0.5,
     "population": 62306600
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     "cash": 6972,
     "real": 9738.4,
     "perHead": 111.06,
     "perHeadReal": 155.13,
     "yoyCash": -6.1,
     "yoyReal": -7.4,
     "population": 62775500
    },
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     "cash": 6288,
     "real": 8722.4,
     "perHead": 99.44,
     "perHeadReal": 137.94,
     "yoyCash": -9.8,
     "yoyReal": -10.4,
     "population": 63232000
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    "2016-17": {
     "cash": 6079,
     "real": 8266.8,
     "perHead": 95.37,
     "perHeadReal": 129.7,
     "yoyCash": -3.3,
     "yoyReal": -5.2,
     "population": 63739800
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     "real": 8057.3,
     "perHead": 93.62,
     "perHeadReal": 125.72,
     "yoyCash": -1.3,
     "yoyReal": -2.5,
     "population": 64089100
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     "real": 7562.6,
     "perHead": 89.44,
     "perHeadReal": 117.43,
     "yoyCash": -4,
     "yoyReal": -6.1,
     "population": 64400400
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    "2019-20": {
     "cash": 5695,
     "real": 7285.1,
     "perHead": 87.98,
     "perHeadReal": 112.55,
     "yoyCash": -1.1,
     "yoyReal": -3.7,
     "population": 64729000
    },
    "2020-21": {
     "cash": 6476,
     "real": 7872.7,
     "perHead": 99.88,
     "perHeadReal": 121.42,
     "yoyCash": 13.7,
     "yoyReal": 8.1,
     "population": 64839400
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    "2021-22": {
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     "real": 10581.5,
     "perHead": 134.08,
     "perHeadReal": 162.61,
     "yoyCash": 34.7,
     "yoyReal": 34.4,
     "population": 65073400
    },
    "2022-23": {
     "cash": 8150,
     "real": 9235,
     "perHead": 124,
     "perHeadReal": 140.51,
     "yoyCash": -6.6,
     "yoyReal": -12.7,
     "population": 65725600
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    "2023-24": {
     "cash": 8416,
     "real": 9059.7,
     "perHead": 126.36,
     "perHeadReal": 136.02,
     "yoyCash": 3.3,
     "yoyReal": -1.9,
     "population": 66605800
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    "2024-25": {
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     "perHead": 133.96,
     "perHeadReal": 138.58,
     "yoyCash": 7.2,
     "yoyReal": 3,
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    "2025-26": {
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     "perHead": 142,
     "perHeadReal": 142,
     "yoyCash": 6,
     "yoyReal": 2.5,
     "population": 67353600
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   "sourceIds": [
    "dwp-core-tables",
    "hmt-pesa-ch1-2021",
    "hmt-pesa-ch1-2016",
    "hmt-pesa-ch1-2011"
   ],
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   "children": [
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    "dwp-other-benefits",
    "dwp-employment",
    "dwp-bodies-and-other",
    "dwp-ni-fund",
    "dwp-local-authorities"
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   "note": "Resource DEL: day-to-day departmental spending, excluding depreciation and the skills programmes moved from the Department for Education in 2025. It includes employment programmes, grants to councils for running Housing Benefit and the Household Support Fund, and DWP’s arm’s-length bodies. DWP runs benefits for England, Scotland and Wales together; per head divides by the population of Great Britain. The split by section covers 2021-22 to 2025-26 (the latest core tables); earlier years are the total only, from PESA."
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   "id": "sss-staff",
   "name": "Staff costs",
   "level": "category",
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   "codeScheme": "none",
   "nation": "S92000003",
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     "perHeadReal": 5.25,
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     "yoyReal": null,
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     "perHeadReal": 9.51,
     "yoyCash": 90.5,
     "yoyReal": 81.1,
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     "perHeadReal": 20.55,
     "yoyCash": 116.8,
     "yoyReal": 116.4,
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    "2022-23": {
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     "real": 195.6,
     "perHead": 31.69,
     "perHeadReal": 35.91,
     "yoyCash": 88.2,
     "yoyReal": 75.9,
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     "real": 211.5,
     "perHead": 35.69,
     "perHeadReal": 38.42,
     "yoyCash": 13.8,
     "yoyReal": 8.1,
     "population": 5506000
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    "2024-25": {
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     "real": 225.5,
     "perHead": 39.3,
     "perHeadReal": 40.66,
     "yoyCash": 10.9,
     "yoyReal": 6.6,
     "population": 5546900
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   },
   "sourceIds": [
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   "children": [],
   "notPublished": "Not broken down further in the accounts."
  },
  "sss-other": {
   "id": "sss-other",
   "name": "Other administration costs (IT, accommodation, shared services, depreciation)",
   "level": "category",
   "code": null,
   "codeScheme": "none",
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     "yoyCash": null,
     "yoyReal": null,
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     "perHead": 16.27,
     "perHeadReal": 19.78,
     "yoyCash": 537.7,
     "yoyReal": 504.4,
     "population": 5408900
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     "real": 32.4,
     "perHead": 4.93,
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     "yoyCash": -69.7,
     "yoyReal": -69.7,
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     "real": 39.8,
     "perHead": 6.44,
     "perHeadReal": 7.3,
     "yoyCash": 31.5,
     "yoyReal": 22.8,
     "population": 5447000
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    "2023-24": {
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     "real": 51.7,
     "perHead": 8.72,
     "perHeadReal": 9.38,
     "yoyCash": 36.8,
     "yoyReal": 29.8,
     "population": 5506000
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    "2024-25": {
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     "real": 65.5,
     "perHead": 11.41,
     "perHeadReal": 11.8,
     "yoyCash": 31.9,
     "yoyReal": 26.7,
     "population": 5546900
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   },
   "sourceIds": [
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   ],
   "children": [],
   "notPublished": "Not broken down further in the accounts."
  },
  "sss-dwp": {
   "id": "sss-dwp",
   "name": "Paid to DWP for benefits it still delivers in Scotland (agency agreements)",
   "level": "category",
   "code": null,
   "codeScheme": "none",
   "nation": "S92000003",
   "years": {
    "2021-22": {
     "cash": 76.5,
     "real": 92.8,
     "perHead": 14.13,
     "perHeadReal": 17.14,
     "yoyCash": null,
     "yoyReal": null,
     "population": 5412900
    },
    "2022-23": {
     "cash": 59.1,
     "real": 67,
     "perHead": 10.85,
     "perHeadReal": 12.29,
     "yoyCash": -22.7,
     "yoyReal": -27.8,
     "population": 5447000
    },
    "2023-24": {
     "cash": 26.1,
     "real": 28.1,
     "perHead": 4.74,
     "perHeadReal": 5.1,
     "yoyCash": -55.8,
     "yoyReal": -58.1,
     "population": 5506000
    },
    "2024-25": {
     "cash": 17,
     "real": 17.6,
     "perHead": 3.06,
     "perHeadReal": 3.17,
     "yoyCash": -34.9,
     "yoyReal": -37.4,
     "population": 5546900
    }
   },
   "sourceIds": [
    "sss-accounts"
   ],
   "children": [],
   "notPublished": "Not broken down further in the accounts."
  },
  "sss": {
   "id": "sss",
   "name": "Social Security Scotland",
   "level": "body",
   "code": "S92000003",
   "codeScheme": "ons",
   "nation": "S92000003",
   "years": {
    "2019-20": {
     "cash": 36,
     "real": 46.1,
     "perHead": 6.65,
     "perHeadReal": 8.51,
     "yoyCash": null,
     "yoyReal": null,
     "population": 5411200
    },
    "2020-21": {
     "cash": 130.3,
     "real": 158.4,
     "perHead": 24.09,
     "perHeadReal": 29.29,
     "yoyCash": 261.9,
     "yoyReal": 243.6,
     "population": 5408900
    },
    "2021-22": {
     "cash": 194.9,
     "real": 236.4,
     "perHead": 36.01,
     "perHeadReal": 43.67,
     "yoyCash": 49.6,
     "yoyReal": 49.2,
     "population": 5412900
    },
    "2022-23": {
     "cash": 266.8,
     "real": 302.3,
     "perHead": 48.98,
     "perHeadReal": 55.5,
     "yoyCash": 36.9,
     "yoyReal": 27.9,
     "population": 5447000
    },
    "2023-24": {
     "cash": 270.6,
     "real": 291.3,
     "perHead": 49.15,
     "perHeadReal": 52.91,
     "yoyCash": 1.4,
     "yoyReal": -3.6,
     "population": 5506000
    },
    "2024-25": {
     "cash": 298.3,
     "real": 308.6,
     "perHead": 53.78,
     "perHeadReal": 55.63,
     "yoyCash": 10.2,
     "yoyReal": 5.9,
     "population": 5546900
    }
   },
   "sourceIds": [
    "sss-accounts"
   ],
   "file": "https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/binaries/socialsecurity/publications/2025/11/social-security-scotland-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-2025/social-security-scotland-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-2025/publishing:contentBlocks/publishing:document/Social-Security-Scotland-Annual-Report-and-Accounts-2024-25.pdf",
   "children": [
    "sss-staff",
    "sss-other",
    "sss-dwp"
   ],
   "note": "Administration costs in the agency’s accounts, including what it pays DWP to deliver benefits on its behalf. The Scottish Government’s own social security programme costs (building the systems) are in the Scottish Government’s accounts, not here. The agency began in September 2018; its accounts are read from 2019-20."
  },
  "dfc": {
   "id": "dfc",
   "name": "Department for Communities, Northern Ireland: social security operational delivery",
   "level": "body",
   "code": "N92000002",
   "codeScheme": "ons",
   "nation": "N92000002",
   "years": {
    "2021-22": {
     "cash": 353.8,
     "real": 429.1,
     "perHead": 185.76,
     "perHeadReal": 225.29,
     "yoyCash": null,
     "yoyReal": null,
     "population": 1904600
    },
    "2022-23": {
     "cash": 308.5,
     "real": 349.6,
     "perHead": 161.48,
     "perHeadReal": 182.97,
     "yoyCash": -12.8,
     "yoyReal": -18.5,
     "population": 1910500
    },
    "2023-24": {
     "cash": 339,
     "real": 364.9,
     "perHead": 176.53,
     "perHeadReal": 190.03,
     "yoyCash": 9.9,
     "yoyReal": 4.4,
     "population": 1920400
    },
    "2024-25": {
     "cash": 348.6,
     "real": 360.6,
     "perHead": 180.82,
     "perHeadReal": 187.05,
     "yoyCash": 2.8,
     "yoyReal": -1.2,
     "population": 1927900
    },
    "2025-26": {
     "cash": 363.1,
     "real": 363.1,
     "perHead": 188.34,
     "perHeadReal": 188.34,
     "yoyCash": 4.2,
     "yoyReal": 0.7,
     "population": 1927900
    }
   },
   "sourceIds": [
    "dfc-accounts"
   ],
   "file": "https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-08/dfc-annual-report-and-accounts-2025-26.pdf",
   "children": [],
   "note": "The “operational delivery” part of the Welfare and Employment estimate line: administration plus programme running costs, net of the income the department receives for work it does for DWP (child maintenance, for example) and the National Insurance Fund.",
   "notPublished": "The department’s accounts give this line split only into administration and programme costs and income (in the table below); not by office or benefit."
  },
  "uk": {
   "id": "uk",
   "name": "United Kingdom",
   "level": "uk",
   "code": "K02000001",
   "codeScheme": "ons",
   "nation": null,
   "years": {
    "2021-22": {
     "cash": 9273.7,
     "real": 11246.9,
     "perHead": 138.46,
     "perHeadReal": 167.92,
     "yoyCash": null,
     "yoyReal": null,
     "population": 66978000
    },
    "2022-23": {
     "cash": 8725.3,
     "real": 9886.9,
     "perHead": 129,
     "perHeadReal": 146.18,
     "yoyCash": -5.9,
     "yoyReal": -12.1,
     "population": 67636100
    },
    "2023-24": {
     "cash": 9025.6,
     "real": 9716,
     "perHead": 131.71,
     "perHeadReal": 141.78,
     "yoyCash": 3.4,
     "yoyReal": -1.7,
     "population": 68526200
    },
    "2024-25": {
     "cash": 9669.9,
     "real": 10003.1,
     "perHead": 139.57,
     "perHeadReal": 144.38,
     "yoyCash": 7.1,
     "yoyReal": 3,
     "population": 69281400
    }
   },
   "sourceIds": [
    "dwp-core-tables",
    "hmt-pesa-ch1-2021",
    "hmt-pesa-ch1-2016",
    "hmt-pesa-ch1-2011",
    "sss-accounts",
    "dfc-accounts"
   ],
   "children": [
    "dwp",
    "dfc",
    "sss"
   ],
   "note": "DWP’s running costs for Great Britain, Social Security Scotland’s administration costs and Northern Ireland’s social security operational delivery, added together only for years all three are published. Benefit payments are not included: they are shown beside it."
  }
 },
 "measures": {
  "defs": [
   {
    "id": "running-share",
    "label": "Running costs as a share of benefits paid",
    "unit": "%",
    "dp": 1,
    "direction": "neutral",
    "definition": "The body’s running costs divided by the benefits it paid in the same year. For DWP: resource DEL (excluding the skills lines moved in 2025) over resource AME. For Social Security Scotland: administration costs over benefit expenditure in its accounts. The two cover different benefits and definitions, so they are not a like-for-like comparison.",
    "comparable": false
   },
   {
    "id": "running-cost",
    "label": "Running costs",
    "unit": "£ million",
    "dp": 0,
    "direction": "neutral",
    "definition": "What the body spends on running the benefits it administers, cash. DWP: resource DEL excluding depreciation and the skills lines; Social Security Scotland: administration costs in its accounts, including payments to DWP for benefits it still delivers under agency agreements; Northern Ireland: the Department for Communities’ “operational delivery” line (net of what DWP and others pay it for work done for them).",
    "comparable": false
   },
   {
    "id": "benefits-paid",
    "label": "Benefits paid",
    "unit": "£ million",
    "dp": 0,
    "direction": "neutral",
    "definition": "Benefit spending by the body, cash. DWP: resource annually managed expenditure (almost all of it benefits, including the state pension). Social Security Scotland: benefit expenditure in its accounts.",
    "comparable": false
   },
   {
    "id": "admin-budget",
    "label": "Administration budget (HM Treasury definition)",
    "unit": "£ million",
    "dp": 0,
    "direction": "neutral",
    "definition": "The part of DWP’s resource DEL that HM Treasury classes as administration: head-office and back-office costs. Frontline staff in jobcentres and service centres count as programme spending, not administration. The definition was narrowed in 2011-12, so earlier years are left out.",
    "comparable": false
   },
   {
    "id": "headcount",
    "label": "Staff (headcount)",
    "unit": "people",
    "dp": 0,
    "direction": "neutral",
    "definition": "People employed at 31 March. DWP: civil servants in DWP and its agencies, excluding the Health and Safety Executive (Civil Service Statistics). Social Security Scotland: headcount in its accounts.",
    "comparable": false
   },
   {
    "id": "fte",
    "label": "Staff (full-time equivalent)",
    "unit": "FTE",
    "dp": 0,
    "direction": "neutral",
    "definition": "Full-time equivalent civil servants at 31 March, DWP excluding the Health and Safety Executive (Civil Service Statistics).",
    "comparable": false
   }
  ],
  "byBody": {
   "K03000001": {
    "running-share": {
     "periods": {
      "2006-07": 6.39,
      "2007-08": 6.18,
      "2008-09": 5.73,
      "2009-10": 5.83,
      "2010-11": 5.74,
      "2011-12": 4.66,
      "2012-13": 4.38,
      "2013-14": 4.56,
      "2014-15": 4.16,
      "2015-16": 3.63,
      "2016-17": 3.52,
      "2017-18": 3.39,
      "2018-19": 3.18,
      "2019-20": 2.99,
      "2020-21": 3.05,
      "2021-22": 4.03,
      "2022-23": 3.52,
      "2023-24": 3.15,
      "2024-25": 3.13,
      "2025-26": 3.09
     },
     "sourceId": "dwp-core-tables"
    },
    "running-cost": {
     "periods": {
      "2021-22": 8725,
      "2022-23": 8150,
      "2023-24": 8416,
      "2024-25": 9023,
      "2025-26": 9564,
      "2016-17": 6079,
      "2017-18": 6000,
      "2018-19": 5760,
      "2019-20": 5695,
      "2020-21": 6476,
      "2011-12": 7418,
      "2012-13": 7244,
      "2013-14": 7428,
      "2014-15": 6972,
      "2015-16": 6288,
      "2006-07": 7611,
      "2007-08": 7866,
      "2008-09": 7756,
      "2009-10": 8547,
      "2010-11": 8684
     },
     "sourceId": "dwp-core-tables"
    },
    "benefits-paid": {
     "periods": {
      "2021-22": 216575,
      "2022-23": 231299,
      "2023-24": 266805,
      "2024-25": 288032,
      "2025-26": 309842,
      "2020-21": 212378,
      "2016-17": 172921,
      "2017-18": 177252,
      "2018-19": 180877,
      "2019-20": 190782,
      "2011-12": 159167,
      "2012-13": 165506,
      "2013-14": 163072,
      "2014-15": 167639,
      "2015-16": 173400,
      "2006-07": 119139,
      "2007-08": 127334,
      "2008-09": 135344,
      "2009-10": 146514,
      "2010-11": 151330
     },
     "sourceId": "dwp-core-tables"
    },
    "admin-budget": {
     "periods": {
      "2021-22": 906,
      "2022-23": 859,
      "2023-24": 976,
      "2024-25": 1006,
      "2025-26": 1090,
      "2020-21": 911,
      "2016-17": 879,
      "2017-18": 799,
      "2018-19": 779,
      "2019-20": 797,
      "2011-12": 1330,
      "2012-13": 1177,
      "2013-14": 1089,
      "2014-15": 891,
      "2015-16": 835
     },
     "sourceId": "dwp-core-tables",
     "breaks": [
      {
       "period": "2011-12",
       "note": "HM Treasury narrowed the administration budget in 2011-12."
      }
     ]
    },
    "headcount": {
     "periods": {
      "2025-26": 93655,
      "2024-25": 93805,
      "2023-24": 90780,
      "2022-23": 84945,
      "2021-22": 91450,
      "2020-21": 90950,
      "2019-20": 78300,
      "2018-19": 82810
     },
     "sourceId": "cabinet-office-css"
    },
    "fte": {
     "periods": {
      "2025-26": 84110,
      "2024-25": 84415,
      "2023-24": 81680,
      "2022-23": 75935,
      "2021-22": 82100,
      "2020-21": 81420,
      "2019-20": 68790,
      "2018-19": 73340
     },
     "sourceId": "cabinet-office-css"
    }
   },
   "S92000003": {
    "running-share": {
     "periods": {
      "2019-20": 10.38,
      "2020-21": 3.88,
      "2021-22": 5.59,
      "2022-23": 6.6,
      "2023-24": 5.22,
      "2024-25": 5.03
     },
     "sourceId": "sss-accounts"
    },
    "running-cost": {
     "periods": {
      "2019-20": 36,
      "2020-21": 130.3,
      "2021-22": 194.9,
      "2022-23": 266.8,
      "2023-24": 270.6,
      "2024-25": 298.3
     },
     "sourceId": "sss-accounts"
    },
    "benefits-paid": {
     "periods": {
      "2019-20": 346.7,
      "2020-21": 3361,
      "2021-22": 3483.9,
      "2022-23": 4039.6,
      "2023-24": 5188.6,
      "2024-25": 5927.8
     },
     "sourceId": "sss-accounts"
    },
    "headcount": {
     "periods": {
      "2019-20": null,
      "2020-21": null,
      "2021-22": 2445,
      "2022-23": 4027,
      "2023-24": 3955,
      "2024-25": 4249
     },
     "sourceId": "sss-accounts"
    }
   },
   "N92000002": {
    "running-cost": {
     "periods": {
      "2021-22": 353.8,
      "2022-23": 308.5,
      "2023-24": 339,
      "2024-25": 348.6,
      "2025-26": 363.1
     },
     "sourceId": "dfc-accounts"
    }
   }
  },
  "groups": []
 },
 "levelNotes": {
  "nation": "Benefits are run by DWP for Great Britain as a whole, by Social Security Scotland for the benefits devolved to Scotland, and by the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland; each appears as a body. There is no separate England or Wales figure.",
  "local": "Running costs are not published by jobcentre, service centre or area. Councils’ costs of running Housing Benefit are partly met by DWP grants (the “support for local authorities” line); councils’ own spending is on the local government page."
 },
 "breaks": [
  {
   "year": "2011-12",
   "note": "HM Treasury’s budgeting changes (“Clear Line of Sight”) changed what counts in DEL and narrowed the administration budget."
  },
  {
   "year": "2021-22",
   "note": "From 2021-22 the figures are DWP’s own core tables, restated for depreciation moving out of DEL and for the 2025 skills transfer (left out here); earlier years are PESA’s resource DEL excluding depreciation, each year from the newest edition that has it."
  },
  {
   "year": "2018-19",
   "note": "Social Security Scotland began in September 2018 and has taken over benefits from DWP in stages since; DWP’s figures for Scotland fall as it does.",
   "nations": [
    "S92000003"
   ]
  },
  {
   "year": "2025-26",
   "note": "Machinery of government: apprenticeships, adult skills and Skills England moved from the Department for Education to DWP (announced 16 September 2025). DWP’s published totals now include them for every year; they are taken out here."
  }
 ],
 "sources": [
  {
   "id": "dwp-core-tables",
   "name": "DWP annual report and accounts 2025-26: core tables (public spending and administration budget)",
   "publisher": "Department for Work and Pensions",
   "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-annual-report-and-accounts-2025-to-2026",
   "file": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a4cc0d04889d85e75ab40ed/dwp_annual_report_and_accounts_fye_march_2022_to_fye_march_2030.xlsx",
   "published": "2026-07-09",
   "edition": "2025-26",
   "licence": "ogl-3"
  },
  {
   "id": "hmt-pesa-ch1-2026",
   "name": "PESA 2026: chapter 1 tables (departmental budgets)",
   "publisher": "HM Treasury",
   "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/public-expenditure-statistical-analyses-2026",
   "file": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a57728b822fbe6b8245c9a1/PESA_2026_CP_Chapter_1_tables.xlsx",
   "published": "2026-07-16",
   "edition": "PESA 2026",
   "licence": "ogl-3"
  },
  {
   "id": "hmt-pesa-ch1-2025",
   "name": "PESA 2025: chapter 1 tables (departmental budgets)",
   "publisher": "HM Treasury",
   "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/public-expenditure-statistical-analyses-2025",
   "file": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6874fa8f92691289bdb7d394/PESA_2025_CP_Chapter_1_tables.xlsx",
   "published": "2025-07-17",
   "edition": "PESA 2025",
   "licence": "ogl-3"
  },
  {
   "id": "hmt-pesa-ch1-2021",
   "name": "PESA 2021: chapter 1 tables (departmental budgets)",
   "publisher": "HM Treasury",
   "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/public-expenditure-statistical-analyses-2021",
   "file": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60f573818fa8f50c774582c7/PESA_2021_CP_Chapter_1.xlsx",
   "published": "2021-07-20",
   "edition": "PESA 2021",
   "licence": "ogl-3"
  },
  {
   "id": "hmt-pesa-ch1-2016",
   "name": "PESA 2016: chapter 1 tables (departmental budgets)",
   "publisher": "HM Treasury",
   "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/public-expenditure-statistical-analyses-2016",
   "file": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a75b2f4ed915d6faf2b5027/PESA_2016_Chapter_1_Tables.xlsx",
   "published": "2016-07-21",
   "edition": "PESA 2016",
   "licence": "ogl-3"
  },
  {
   "id": "hmt-pesa-ch1-2011",
   "name": "PESA 2011: chapter 1 tables (departmental budgets)",
   "publisher": "HM Treasury",
   "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/public-expenditure-statistical-analyses-2011",
   "file": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7cbeb4ed915d63cc65c98e/pesa_2011_tables_chapter1.xlsx",
   "published": "2011-07-13",
   "edition": "PESA 2011",
   "licence": "ogl-3"
  },
  {
   "id": "cabinet-office-css",
   "name": "Civil Service Statistics 2019 to 2026: statistical tables",
   "publisher": "Cabinet Office",
   "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/civil-service-statistics",
   "file": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a677302dbf59f1cdb3622ee/Statistical_tables_-_Civil_Service_Statistics_2026.ods",
   "published": "2026-07-29",
   "edition": "2026",
   "licence": "ogl-3"
  },
  {
   "id": "sss-accounts",
   "name": "Social Security Scotland: annual report and accounts",
   "publisher": "Social Security Scotland",
   "url": "https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/reporting/publications",
   "file": "https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/binaries/socialsecurity/publications/2025/11/social-security-scotland-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-2025/social-security-scotland-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-2025/publishing:contentBlocks/publishing:document/Social-Security-Scotland-Annual-Report-and-Accounts-2024-25.pdf",
   "published": null,
   "edition": "2024-25",
   "licence": "ogl-3",
   "route": "Read from the PDF accounts and kept by hand in config/manual.json"
  },
  {
   "id": "dfc-accounts",
   "name": "Department for Communities (Northern Ireland): annual report and accounts",
   "publisher": "Department for Communities",
   "url": "https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/articles/dfc-corporate-reports",
   "file": "https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-08/dfc-annual-report-and-accounts-2025-26.pdf",
   "published": null,
   "edition": "2025-26",
   "licence": "ogl-3",
   "route": "Read from the PDF accounts and kept by hand in config/manual.json"
  },
  {
   "id": "dwp-ara-pdf",
   "name": "DWP annual report and accounts (PDF): spending by business group, estates and average staff numbers",
   "publisher": "Department for Work and Pensions",
   "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dwp-annual-reports-and-accounts",
   "file": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a4e3a53895317eadc35459e/dwp_annual_report_and_accounts_2025_to_2026.pdf",
   "published": null,
   "edition": "2025-26",
   "licence": "ogl-3",
   "route": "Read from the PDF and kept by hand in config/manual.json"
  },
  {
   "id": "hmt-deflators",
   "name": "GDP deflators at market prices, and money GDP",
   "publisher": "HM Treasury",
   "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/gdp-deflators-at-market-prices-and-money-gdp",
   "licence": "ogl-3"
  },
  {
   "id": "ons-population",
   "name": "Population estimates (UK and nations time series; local authorities on Nomis)",
   "publisher": "Office for National Statistics",
   "url": "https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates",
   "published": null,
   "edition": "mid-2025",
   "licence": "ogl-3"
  }
 ],
 "notes": [
  "Money is £ million, cash as published, with real terms in the dataset’s price base (HM Treasury GDP deflator).",
  "Running costs and benefits are never added together: the share of benefits is running costs divided by benefits paid in the same year, worked out here.",
  "DWP’s resource DEL is not only running costs: it includes employment programmes, grants to councils and the Household Support Fund. The “running the department” line is the nearest to the cost of administration alone; HM Treasury’s administration budget is narrower still.",
  "Staff at 31 March are shown against the financial year ending that day."
 ],
 "extra": {
  "dwp": {
   "2006-07": {
    "running": 7611,
    "benefits": 119139,
    "sharePct": 6.39,
    "adminBudget": null,
    "core": null,
    "corePct": null,
    "from": "pesa-2011"
   },
   "2007-08": {
    "running": 7866,
    "benefits": 127334,
    "sharePct": 6.18,
    "adminBudget": null,
    "core": null,
    "corePct": null,
    "from": "pesa-2011"
   },
   "2008-09": {
    "running": 7756,
    "benefits": 135344,
    "sharePct": 5.73,
    "adminBudget": null,
    "core": null,
    "corePct": null,
    "from": "pesa-2011"
   },
   "2009-10": {
    "running": 8547,
    "benefits": 146514,
    "sharePct": 5.83,
    "adminBudget": null,
    "core": null,
    "corePct": null,
    "from": "pesa-2011"
   },
   "2010-11": {
    "running": 8684,
    "benefits": 151330,
    "sharePct": 5.74,
    "adminBudget": null,
    "core": null,
    "corePct": null,
    "from": "pesa-2011"
   },
   "2011-12": {
    "running": 7418,
    "benefits": 159167,
    "sharePct": 4.66,
    "adminBudget": 1330,
    "core": null,
    "corePct": null,
    "from": "pesa-2016"
   },
   "2012-13": {
    "running": 7244,
    "benefits": 165506,
    "sharePct": 4.38,
    "adminBudget": 1177,
    "core": null,
    "corePct": null,
    "from": "pesa-2016"
   },
   "2013-14": {
    "running": 7428,
    "benefits": 163072,
    "sharePct": 4.56,
    "adminBudget": 1089,
    "core": null,
    "corePct": null,
    "from": "pesa-2016"
   },
   "2014-15": {
    "running": 6972,
    "benefits": 167639,
    "sharePct": 4.16,
    "adminBudget": 891,
    "core": null,
    "corePct": null,
    "from": "pesa-2016"
   },
   "2015-16": {
    "running": 6288,
    "benefits": 173400,
    "sharePct": 3.63,
    "adminBudget": 835,
    "core": null,
    "corePct": null,
    "from": "pesa-2016"
   },
   "2016-17": {
    "running": 6079,
    "benefits": 172921,
    "sharePct": 3.52,
    "adminBudget": 879,
    "core": null,
    "corePct": null,
    "from": "pesa-2021"
   },
   "2017-18": {
    "running": 6000,
    "benefits": 177252,
    "sharePct": 3.39,
    "adminBudget": 799,
    "core": null,
    "corePct": null,
    "from": "pesa-2021"
   },
   "2018-19": {
    "running": 5760,
    "benefits": 180877,
    "sharePct": 3.18,
    "adminBudget": 779,
    "core": null,
    "corePct": null,
    "from": "pesa-2021"
   },
   "2019-20": {
    "running": 5695,
    "benefits": 190782,
    "sharePct": 2.99,
    "adminBudget": 797,
    "core": null,
    "corePct": null,
    "from": "pesa-2021"
   },
   "2020-21": {
    "running": 6476,
    "benefits": 212378,
    "sharePct": 3.05,
    "adminBudget": 911,
    "core": null,
    "corePct": null,
    "from": "pesa-2021"
   },
   "2021-22": {
    "running": 8725,
    "benefits": 216575,
    "sharePct": 4.03,
    "adminBudget": 906,
    "core": 5757,
    "corePct": 2.66,
    "from": "core-2025-26"
   },
   "2022-23": {
    "running": 8150,
    "benefits": 231299,
    "sharePct": 3.52,
    "adminBudget": 859,
    "core": 5520,
    "corePct": 2.39,
    "from": "core-2025-26"
   },
   "2023-24": {
    "running": 8416,
    "benefits": 266805,
    "sharePct": 3.15,
    "adminBudget": 976,
    "core": 5740,
    "corePct": 2.15,
    "from": "core-2025-26"
   },
   "2024-25": {
    "running": 9023,
    "benefits": 288032,
    "sharePct": 3.13,
    "adminBudget": 1006,
    "core": 5962,
    "corePct": 2.07,
    "from": "core-2025-26"
   },
   "2025-26": {
    "running": 9564,
    "benefits": 309842,
    "sharePct": 3.09,
    "adminBudget": 1090,
    "core": 6693,
    "corePct": 2.16,
    "from": "core-2025-26"
   }
  },
  "composition": {
   "2021-22": {
    "staff": 3894,
    "goods": 2602,
    "total": 8725,
    "staffPct": 44.6
   },
   "2022-23": {
    "staff": 3790,
    "goods": 2470,
    "total": 8150,
    "staffPct": 46.5
   },
   "2023-24": {
    "staff": 4133,
    "goods": 2737,
    "total": 8416,
    "staffPct": 49.1
   },
   "2024-25": {
    "staff": 4492,
    "goods": 2961,
    "total": 9023,
    "staffPct": 49.8
   },
   "2025-26": {
    "staff": 4938,
    "goods": 3334,
    "total": 9564,
    "staffPct": 51.6
   }
  },
  "coreEdition": "2025-26",
  "staff": {
   "2025-26": {
    "headcount": 93655,
    "fte": 84110,
    "edition": "2026"
   },
   "2024-25": {
    "headcount": 93805,
    "fte": 84415,
    "edition": "2025"
   },
   "2023-24": {
    "headcount": 90780,
    "fte": 81680,
    "edition": "2024"
   },
   "2022-23": {
    "headcount": 84945,
    "fte": 75935,
    "edition": "2023"
   },
   "2021-22": {
    "headcount": 91450,
    "fte": 82100,
    "edition": "2022"
   },
   "2020-21": {
    "headcount": 90950,
    "fte": 81420,
    "edition": "2021"
   },
   "2019-20": {
    "headcount": 78300,
    "fte": 68790,
    "edition": "2020"
   },
   "2018-19": {
    "headcount": 82810,
    "fte": 73340,
    "edition": "2019"
   }
  },
  "staffByNation": {
   "edition": "2026",
   "asAt": "2026-03-31",
   "values": {
    "England": 78535,
    "Wales": 6585,
    "Scotland": 8455
   },
   "total": 93575
  },
  "averageFte": [
   {
    "year": "2024-25",
    "fte": 89469,
    "sourceName": "DWP Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26, average staff numbers (prior year)",
    "sourceUrl": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a4e3a53895317eadc35459e/dwp_annual_report_and_accounts_2025_to_2026.pdf"
   },
   {
    "year": "2025-26",
    "fte": 91306,
    "sourceName": "DWP Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26, average staff numbers",
    "sourceUrl": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a4e3a53895317eadc35459e/dwp_annual_report_and_accounts_2025_to_2026.pdf"
   }
  ],
  "scotland": [
   {
    "id": "2019-20",
    "year": "2019-20",
    "adminM": 36,
    "staffM": 22.2,
    "otherAdminM": 13.8,
    "dwpAgreementsM": null,
    "benefitsM": 346.7,
    "headcount": null,
    "sourceName": "Social Security Scotland: Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21, Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure (prior year)",
    "sourceUrl": "https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/binaries/socialsecurity/publications/2021/11/social-security-scotland-annual-report-and-account-2020-2021/social-security-scotland-annual-report-and-account-2020-2021/publishing%3AcontentBlocks%5B2%5D/publishing%3Adocument/2021-Annual-Report-and-Accounts.pdf",
    "published": null,
    "lastVerified": "2026-09-24",
    "sharePct": 10.38
   },
   {
    "id": "2020-21",
    "year": "2020-21",
    "adminM": 130.3,
    "staffM": 42.3,
    "otherAdminM": 88,
    "dwpAgreementsM": null,
    "benefitsM": 3361,
    "headcount": null,
    "sourceName": "Social Security Scotland: Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21, Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure",
    "sourceUrl": "https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/binaries/socialsecurity/publications/2021/11/social-security-scotland-annual-report-and-account-2020-2021/social-security-scotland-annual-report-and-account-2020-2021/publishing%3AcontentBlocks%5B2%5D/publishing%3Adocument/2021-Annual-Report-and-Accounts.pdf",
    "published": null,
    "lastVerified": "2026-09-24",
    "sharePct": 3.88
   },
   {
    "id": "2021-22",
    "year": "2021-22",
    "adminM": 194.9,
    "staffM": 91.7,
    "otherAdminM": 26.7,
    "dwpAgreementsM": 76.5,
    "benefitsM": 3483.9,
    "headcount": 2445,
    "sourceName": "Social Security Scotland: Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23, Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure and note 2 (prior year)",
    "sourceUrl": "https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/binaries/socialsecurity/publications/2023/11/social-security-scotland-annual-report-and-account-2021-2022/social-security-scotland-annual-report-and-account-2021-2022/publishing%3AcontentBlocks/publishing%3Adocument/Social-Security-Scotland-Annual-Report-and-Accounts-2022-2023.pdf",
    "published": "2023-11-14",
    "lastVerified": "2026-09-24",
    "sharePct": 5.59
   },
   {
    "id": "2022-23",
    "year": "2022-23",
    "adminM": 266.8,
    "staffM": 172.6,
    "otherAdminM": 35.1,
    "dwpAgreementsM": 59.1,
    "benefitsM": 4039.6,
    "headcount": 4027,
    "sourceName": "Social Security Scotland: Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23, Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure and note 2",
    "sourceUrl": "https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/binaries/socialsecurity/publications/2023/11/social-security-scotland-annual-report-and-account-2021-2022/social-security-scotland-annual-report-and-account-2021-2022/publishing%3AcontentBlocks/publishing%3Adocument/Social-Security-Scotland-Annual-Report-and-Accounts-2022-2023.pdf",
    "published": "2023-11-14",
    "lastVerified": "2026-09-24",
    "sharePct": 6.6
   },
   {
    "id": "2023-24",
    "year": "2023-24",
    "adminM": 270.6,
    "staffM": 196.5,
    "otherAdminM": 48,
    "dwpAgreementsM": 26.1,
    "benefitsM": 5188.6,
    "headcount": 3955,
    "sourceName": "Social Security Scotland: Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25, Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure and note 2 (prior year)",
    "sourceUrl": "https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/binaries/socialsecurity/publications/2025/11/social-security-scotland-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-2025/social-security-scotland-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-2025/publishing:contentBlocks/publishing:document/Social-Security-Scotland-Annual-Report-and-Accounts-2024-25.pdf",
    "published": null,
    "lastVerified": "2026-09-24",
    "sharePct": 5.22
   },
   {
    "id": "2024-25",
    "year": "2024-25",
    "adminM": 298.3,
    "staffM": 218,
    "otherAdminM": 63.3,
    "dwpAgreementsM": 17,
    "benefitsM": 5927.8,
    "headcount": 4249,
    "sourceName": "Social Security Scotland: Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25, Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure and note 2",
    "sourceUrl": "https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/binaries/socialsecurity/publications/2025/11/social-security-scotland-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-2025/social-security-scotland-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-2025/publishing:contentBlocks/publishing:document/Social-Security-Scotland-Annual-Report-and-Accounts-2024-25.pdf",
    "published": null,
    "lastVerified": "2026-09-24",
    "sharePct": 5.03
   }
  ],
  "northernIreland": [
   {
    "id": "2021-22",
    "year": "2021-22",
    "netM": 353.8,
    "adminM": null,
    "programmeGrossM": null,
    "incomeM": null,
    "sourceName": "Department for Communities: Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23, SoAS1.1, Welfare and Employment: operational delivery (prior year total)",
    "sourceUrl": "https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/communities/dfc-annual-report-and-accounts-2022-23.pdf",
    "lastVerified": "2026-09-24"
   },
   {
    "id": "2022-23",
    "year": "2022-23",
    "netM": 308.5,
    "adminM": 25.4,
    "programmeGrossM": 366.2,
    "incomeM": 83.1,
    "sourceName": "Department for Communities: Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23, SoAS1.1, Welfare and Employment: operational delivery",
    "sourceUrl": "https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/communities/dfc-annual-report-and-accounts-2022-23.pdf",
    "lastVerified": "2026-09-24"
   },
   {
    "id": "2023-24",
    "year": "2023-24",
    "netM": 339,
    "adminM": 34.7,
    "programmeGrossM": 406.6,
    "incomeM": 102.3,
    "sourceName": "Department for Communities: Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24, SoAS1.1, Welfare and Employment: operational delivery",
    "sourceUrl": "https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/communities/dfc-annual-report-and-accounts-2023-24.pdf",
    "lastVerified": "2026-09-24"
   },
   {
    "id": "2024-25",
    "year": "2024-25",
    "netM": 348.6,
    "adminM": 17,
    "programmeGrossM": 481,
    "incomeM": 149.4,
    "sourceName": "Department for Communities: Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25, SoAS1.1, Welfare and Employment: operational delivery",
    "sourceUrl": "https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-08/dfc-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-25.pdf",
    "lastVerified": "2026-09-24"
   },
   {
    "id": "2025-26",
    "year": "2025-26",
    "netM": 363.1,
    "adminM": 28.9,
    "programmeGrossM": 519.4,
    "incomeM": 185.2,
    "sourceName": "Department for Communities: Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26, SoAS1.1, Welfare and Employment: operational delivery",
    "sourceUrl": "https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-08/dfc-annual-report-and-accounts-2025-26.pdf",
    "lastVerified": "2026-09-24"
   }
  ],
  "groups": {
   "year": "2025-26",
   "totalBn": 10.6,
   "groups": [
    {
     "name": "Jobs and Careers Service (jobcentres and work coaches)",
     "bn": 2.3
    },
    {
     "name": "Contract Management and Partner Delivery (contracted services, including health assessments and employment programmes)",
     "bn": 2.2
    },
    {
     "name": "Digital and Transformation Group",
     "bn": 1.9
    },
    {
     "name": "DWP Service and Fraud (benefit processing, service centres, counter-fraud)",
     "bn": 1.6
    },
    {
     "name": "Corporate Transformation",
     "bn": 1.4
    },
    {
     "name": "Policy Group (excluding the Money and Pensions Service)",
     "bn": 0.4
    },
    {
     "name": "Health and Safety Executive",
     "bn": 0.2
    },
    {
     "name": "People and Capability",
     "bn": 0.2
    },
    {
     "name": "Money and Pensions Service",
     "bn": 0.2
    },
    {
     "name": "Finance Group (excluding contract management)",
     "bn": 0.2
    },
    {
     "name": "Other corporate (communications and private office)",
     "bn": 0
    }
   ],
   "note": "DWP’s own chart of departmental (DEL) spending by business group; the groups are its internal directorates and are rounded to £0.1 billion, so they do not add exactly.",
   "sourceName": "DWP Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26 (HC 262), Chief Finance Officer overview: departmental spend in 2025-26",
   "sourceUrl": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a4e3a53895317eadc35459e/dwp_annual_report_and_accounts_2025_to_2026.pdf",
   "lastVerified": "2026-09-24"
  },
  "network": [
   {
    "id": "gb-temporary-jobcentres",
    "statement": "DWP opened 194 temporary jobcentres during the pandemic; by March 2026 all but one had closed, and it is being converted into a permanent jobcentre. In 2025-26 DWP also left 4 established jobcentres and 4 service and support centres.",
    "sourceName": "DWP Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26, estates section",
    "sourceUrl": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a4e3a53895317eadc35459e/dwp_annual_report_and_accounts_2025_to_2026.pdf",
    "lastVerified": "2026-09-24"
   },
   {
    "id": "ni-offices",
    "statement": "In Northern Ireland, Universal Credit was run from three service centres, two satellite service centres, 35 Jobs & Benefits offices and an operational control centre in Belfast (2021-22).",
    "sourceName": "Department for Communities: Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22",
    "sourceUrl": "https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/communities/dfc-annual-report-and-accounts-2021-22.pdf",
    "lastVerified": "2026-09-24"
   }
  ],
  "ukParts": {
   "2021-22": {
    "dwp": 8725,
    "scotland": 194.9,
    "ni": 353.8
   },
   "2022-23": {
    "dwp": 8150,
    "scotland": 266.8,
    "ni": 308.5
   },
   "2023-24": {
    "dwp": 8416,
    "scotland": 270.6,
    "ni": 339
   },
   "2024-25": {
    "dwp": 9023,
    "scotland": 298.3,
    "ni": 348.6
   }
  },
  "notRead": [
   {
    "what": "Cost per claim for each benefit",
    "why": "DWP does not publish a regular unit cost per claim or per benefit. Its accounts give running costs by type and by section, not by benefit."
   },
   {
    "what": "The cost of the contracted health assessments for PIP and the Work Capability Assessment (the Functional Assessment Service)",
    "why": "Not a separate line in DWP’s core tables or accounts notes; it sits inside “running the department”. National Audit Office reports give contract values for particular years."
   },
   {
    "what": "Running costs by jobcentre or service centre",
    "why": "Not published. DWP does not publish a count of its jobcentres in its accounts either; what it says about its estate is shown above."
   },
   {
    "what": "England, Wales and Scotland separately for DWP",
    "why": "DWP runs benefits for Great Britain as one and does not split its running costs by nation. Its staff are split by nation (Civil Service Statistics), shown here."
   },
   {
    "what": "HMRC’s cost of running tax credits and Child Benefit",
    "why": "Part of HMRC’s costs, on the cost-of-collection page."
   }
  ]
 }
}