Department for Work and Pensions 2015-16 Accounts - Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General

The Department’s total estimated expenditure on benefits in 2015-16 was £172.0 billion, of which £147.7 billion was for benefits paid directly by the Department and £24.3 billion for benefits paid on the Department’s behalf by local authorities (Housing Benefit). Benefit expenditure represents 96% of the Department’s 2015-16 total net operating costs of £179.9 billion, as recorded in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts.

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