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UK Welfare Caseload Tops 5 Million as Ministers Weigh Targeted DWP Clampdown

Fresh CSJ figures thrust welfare costs to the forefront before the Autumn Budget.

Overview

  • New CSJ analysis reports more than 5 million people on benefits with no work requirement, including over 4 million on Universal Credit and about 1 million on Employment and Support Allowance.
  • The think tank says Personal Independence Payment caseloads grew by about 1.3 million in five years, with anxiety and depression claims tripling.
  • Researchers estimate the number of children with jobless parents rose by 180,000 last year to 1.5 million, the fastest annual increase on record.
  • The Office for Budget Responsibility previously projected total welfare spending would rise by over £60 billion by 2030, while the CSJ warns dropping savings efforts could add up to £27.2 billion by 2030.
  • Birmingham Live and Yorkshire Live report the government may announce from Wednesday a DWP focus on two benefits, though the details and scope have not been confirmed.